For me, the most meaningful aspect of the framework that I've read is the 1.2 of the Domain 1. I have improved my understanding on how to recognise the impact of my patient's refugee-like experiences and take these experiences into account when I give them the care that I would provide for my patients.

this understanding will be important to me in the workplace as I go into clinical practice in the future and encounter people from different cultural backgrounds and have different experiences in life. I now have the knowledge to empathise with my patients and think about my patient's experiences as I give them care.

reference:

MIGRANT AND REFUGEE WOMEN’S HEALTH PARTNERSHIP. (2019). Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice: Working with People from Migrant and Refugee Backgrounds COMPETENCY STANDARDS FRAMEWORK FOR CLINICIANS (pp. 14–17). https://cbrhl.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Culturally-responsive-clinica.pdf

The World Health Organisation (WHO) along with the Australian Government have set up laws and regulations to promote social inclusion and non-discrimination

to all refugees including equal opportunities for employment, education, housing, access to health services, etc.

Having social inclusion and non-discrimination regulations in Australia have a positive impact for Iraqi refugees in regards of their health as they can have access to health services such as vaccinations, hospitals and mental health services. also having equal opportunities for employment and education allows refugees to start again with their life which has a positive impact for their health and wellbeing.

According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS, 2022) 48.7% of Iraqi refugees coming to Australia suffers from PTSD, 40-50% suffers from anxiety and mental distress and 16% have severe mental illness due to their experiences of trauma, persecution, loss of home, and separation from families and relatives during the war on Iraq. despite having high percentage of PTSD among iraqi refugees, only 19% of them seek professional or informal help. In most cases, Iraqi refugees only sought for help from their families and friends.

Some of the factors of low percentage of Iraqi refugees seeking professional help is due to the poor Mental health literacy, limited understanding of the Australian healthcare system and financial problems.

Reference:

Tomasi, A.-M., Slewa-Younan, S., Narchal, R., & Rioseco, P. (2022). Understanding the Mental Health and help-seeking Behaviours of Refugees. Australian Institute of Family Studies. https://aifs.gov.au/resources/short-articles/understanding-mental-health-and-help-seeking-behaviours-refugees

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According to Queensland health (2011), some rural Iraqi people believes in ancient traditional health beliefs and practices including superstitions such as evil eye, jinni, witchcrafts and bad luck and often seek traditional healers instead of seeking medical help.

When Iraqi families do seek for professional medical help, often times family members stay with the patient to help answer questions about the patient's health and the patient's health results must be relayed to the patient's family first for them to decide whether or not to tell the patient.

For Iraqi women, their husband is often involve in decision making for their procedures such as tubal ligation and hysterectomy.

Iraqi people also religious rituals and customs at birth and death. An example of this a ritual called Adhan that happens during a Muslim childbirth. A male adult that usually is an important person to the infant must be the first to speak to the infant and recites a prayer in the infant's ears.

reference:

Queensland Health. (2011). Iraqi Australians. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/156361/iraqi2011.pdf