THE WATER WELL PROJECT

Project summary

The Water Well Project collaborates with refugee and asylum seeker support organisations across Victoria. The project involves the delivery of interactive health education sessions by volunteer healthcare professionals.  Popular topics include navigating the Australian healthcare system, nutrition, mental health and men’s, women’s and children’s health topics.

What are the benefits of the project?

The project has benefits for community, health professionals and the healthcare system more broadly.

Community participants experience an:

• increased awareness of common medical issues,
• improved access to acute and preventative health services,
• increased confidence in the healthcare system.

Healthcare professional volunteers:

• get first-hand experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities,
• hear about the cultural barriers to access and to achieving and maintaining health,
• get the opportunity to improve skills in communication, facilitation, working effectively with interpreters.

Referral agencies and the healthcare system:

• complement other transition and support services,
• improved utilisation of services including uptake of preventative interventions,
• improve effectiveness of consultations.

More information

To learn more about the Water Well Project visit their website.