Currently, around 4,000 – 6,000 refugees settle in Victoria each year. Many refugees and people seeking asylum have complex physical and mental health issues which can result from:
- poor or interrupted access to healthcare, prolonged deprivation in extreme living conditions and marginalisation
- inconsistent or restricted eligibility for Commonwealth safety net supports for people seeking asylum (such as Medicare, income support, work rights and casework)
- social determinants of health including financial vulnerability, destitution, homelessness, job insecurity and risk of exploitation
- mental health impacts of war, torture, trauma, persecution, loss of and/or separation from family, human rights abuses and prolonged uncertainty.
Despite these challenges, refugee and asylum seeker communities demonstrate tremendous strength and resilience in overcoming adversity to start a new life in Victoria.
Victorian Multicultural Health Survey
The Victorian Multicultural Health Survey 2026 was conducted to better understand the health experiences and needs of multicultural communities including refugees and people seeking asylum.
Almost 800 people shared their experiences and ideas through the survey, community sessions and written submissions. The Listening Report and accessible translated summary are available at Victorian Multicultural Health Survey.
Specialised refugee and asylum seeker health services
To identify and respond to emerging issues in refugee and asylum seeker health, the department funds a number of specialised refugee and asylum seeker health and wellbeing services. These include:
- Refugee Health Program
- Refugee Health Fellows Program and related hospital and outreach immigrant and refugee and asylum seeker health clinics
- Victorian Refugee Health Network
- Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House)
- Cabrini Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health Hub
Health access policies for people seeking asylum
In Victoria, people seeking asylum without a Medicare card have free access to a range of health services including:
- Public hospital services including as admitted, non-admitted or emergency patients
- Ambulance services in emergency situations
- Community health services
- Dental services
- Catch-up immunisation for children and adults
People seeking asylum can also access a range of Victorian health services that do not require a Medicare Card. For further information please see the Support for Asylum Seekers page on the Better Health Channel website.
Free public health care in Victoria for people fleeing the Israel-Palestine conflict
People fleeing the Israel-Palestine conflict who arrived in Australia on a visa subclass 600 (Visitor visa) will have free access to health services in Victoria. This is consistent with existing asylum seeker and refugee health policies.
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