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For me the most significant aspect of the competency standard was 2.1, managing communication barriers and obtaining informed consent. I have enriched my understanding of importances of full disclosure of benefits and consequences of any procedures to my patient.  This understanding will be essential to me in the workplace because it will enable me to respect and maintain the dignity of my patient, prevent emotional distress, build rapport, and facilitate autonomous decision making which will ultimately contribute to better health outcomes.    Initially I did not feel the need to provide comprehensive information to my patients based on my personal experience in my home country, as long I did the best thing. Later, I realised that this paternalistic approach restricts the partnership with my patient in their care, which could impact the overall health outcomes. I now intend to uphold this knowledge by ensuring a genuine understanding from my patients to obtain appropriate informed consent (Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds COMPETENCY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK for CLINICIANS, 2019).

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Social inclusion and non-discrimination, one of the social determinants of health identified by WHO, is highly relevant to the Iraqi refugees in Australia. The Iraqi refugees are reported to have a poor level of English and minimal education, which, along with multiple barriers such as language difficulties and cultural alienation, hinder them from becoming part of the society, increasing their vulnerability. Additionally, Iraqi refugee in Australia have faced severe discrimination in their allocated resettlement neighborhood. This is mainly due to the myth that the Iraqi refugees are paid generously by the Australian government, as they face difficulty joining the workforce. The local community feels that Iraqi refugees are draining the welfare system and often associates the refugees from this Middle Eastern country with terrorism, especially after the horrific event of 9/11. As a result, the Iraqi refugees often suffered from numerous mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD (Vasey & Manderson, 2012).

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Vasey, K., & Manderson, L. (2012). Regionalizing Immigration, Health and Inequality: Iraqi Refugees in Australia. Administrative Sciences, 2(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci2010047

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Iraqi refugees fared worse than others in first 3 years: internal study. (2016, August 15). CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/iraqi-refugees-canada-study-1.3721127 

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Common Health Issues in Iraqi Refugees in Australia

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Common Health Issues in Iraqi Refugees in Australia

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Mental health issues such as PTSD and depression are highly prevalent health problems in Iraqi refugees upon arrival in Australia. The studies show that 30.6 % of the Iraqi refugees are dealing with PTSD and 30.8 % experiencing depression (Uribe Guajardo et al., 2016). This is because the Iraqi citizens have been exposed to violence and human rights violations, with 1 in 5 Iraqi refugees reported being tortured in Iraq, increasing the level of trauma in this vulnerable group (Slewa-Younan et al., 2014).

Therefore, for health professionals, the most effective care for psychological issues often involves non-pharmacological strategies either as the main treatment or alongside medication. Hence, it is crucial to validate the patients’ disclosure of trauma and torture and indicate that their health can be improved with time and appropriate support. Medications are recommended when mental health issues start hindering daily functioning, and additionally, if the patient continues to experience symptoms of mental health issues, they must be referred to specialists such as psychiatrists and psychologists (Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, 2025).

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References: Common Health Issues in Iraqi Refugees in Australia

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References: Common Health Issues in Iraqi Refugees in Australia

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Abbato, S. (2011). Community profiles for health care providers. Queensland Health Multicultural Services. pp 54-57. Queensland Health.   https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0033/158775/profiles-complete.pdf

Management of psychological effects of torture or other traumatic events. Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide. (2025). https://refugeehealthguide.org.au/psychological-effects-of-torture-trauma/

Slewa-Younan, S., Mond, J., Francis, A., Dr, J., Smith, M., Milosevic, D., Ms, M., Lujic, S., Dover, H., Gabriela, M., & Guajardo, U. (2014). MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY OF RESETTLED IRAQI REFUGEES IN NEW SOUTH WALES: Paving the way for mental health education and promotion in vulnerable communities Pilot Project Report Chief Investigators. https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/1346848/MHL_of_Iraqi_Refugees.pdf

‌ Uribe Guajardo, M. G., Slewa-Younan, S., Smith, M., Eagar, S., & Stone, G. (2016). Psychological distress is influenced by length of stay in resettled Iraqi refugees in Australia. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-016-0036-z

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Health Belief and Traditional medicine in Iraqi culture

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Health Belief and Traditional medicine in Iraqi culture

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Sultan, A. S. S. (2007). Medicine in the 21st century: The situation in a rural Iraqi community. Patient Education and Counseling, 68(1), 66–69. Elsevier.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.04.010 