Victorian Refugee Health Network

What Victorian Refugee Health Network does

Victorian Refugee Health Network (VRHN) is a statewide non-government-funded initiative coordinating refugee and asylum-seeker health activity across Victoria, Australia. It was established in 2007 and operates under the auspice of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House), with funding provided by the Victorian Government Department of Health. Its functional role is to serve as a convening and information-sharing platform for health professionals, community organizations, and policymakers working with refugee and migrant communities, rather than to deliver direct clinical services.

The network's core products are informational rather than clinical. These include the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide (a reference document for clinicians), the Health Translations directory (a curated catalogue of translated health resources), quarterly Settlement Data Bulletins that aggregate refugee demographic data, periodic e-bulletins, and a programme of statewide meetings alongside regional local networks (Bendigo, Eastern, Western, Sunraysia). Technology footprint is conventional: a public-facing website, e-bulletin distribution, and video resources such as a recently produced RSV educational video with translated versions. No AI/ML capability, proprietary model, or advanced technical stack is evidenced in the input.

VRHN does not generate commercial revenue. Membership and participation in the network and its resources are free; the operating model relies on government grant funding channeled through Foundation House as the auspice body. Strategic partners include AMES Australia, the Refugee Council of Australia, NASAVic, NRNN, and ECCV, with whom VRHN collaborates on training, advocacy, and resource development. Headcount is small (1-10 employees), consistent with a lean coordination secretariat rather than a service-delivery organization.

Name

Victorian Refugee Health Network

Legal name

The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc

Website

https://refugeehealthnetwork.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Victorian Refugee Health Network is a statewide, government-funded initiative operating under Foundation House that coordinates refugee and asylum-seeker health activity across Victoria, serving health professionals, community organizations, and policymakers through practice guides, translated resources, and quarterly data bulletins.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Refugee Health Coordination Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee & Immigrant Support Services (BPAGAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee/Migrant Health & Resettlement Health Units (HLAJAAAJ), Refugee Reception & Registration (BPADAHAA), Refugee & Humanitarian Newcomer Orientation (Resettlement Support) (EDAAADAI)

Keywords

• Refugee health coordination
• Settlement health data
• Refugee clinical guidelines
• Multilingual health resources
• Professional health networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Brunswick

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Victorian Refugee Health Network is funded by the Victorian Government's Department of Health and is auspic by The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Victorian Refugee Health Network is a statewide coordination network that connects health professionals, community organizations, settlement services, and government agencies to address the health and wellbeing of people from refugee backgrounds and people seeking asylum in Victoria. It delivers curated resources including Settlement Data Bulletins, the Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide, the Health Translations multilingual directory, and clinical assessment tools, alongside convening quarterly statewide meetings, advocacy, and professional development.

Product overview

The Victorian Refugee Health Network is a coordination and information-sharing platform for health professionals working with refugee and asylum seeker communities in Victoria, Australia. It does not offer a technology product in the traditional sense. The network provides an informational website containing resources, referral pathways, training materials, settlement data bulletins, and coordinates statewide meetings. Key offerings include the website portal itself, quarterly Settlement Data Bulletins, health professional tools and resources (Refugee Health Assessment templates, interpreter guides), translated health resources, and coordination of local and statewide refugee health networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Settlement Data Bulletins Statistical bulletins describing the demographic profile, countries of origin, and settlement distribution of refugee and humanitarian entrants across Victorian Local Government Areas, intended for health planners, clinicians, and service providers.
• Australian Refugee Health Practice Guide A comprehensive online clinical practice guide providing evidence-based guidance on the assessment and management of health issues for people from refugee backgrounds, aimed at general practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals.
• Health Translations Directory Online directory that connects clinicians and consumers to multilingual health information and resources translated into a wide range of community languages used by refugee populations in Australia.
• Refugee Health Assessment Tool and Quick Guide for GPs Clinical tools designed for general practitioners, including a refugee health assessment template and a quick reference guide to support the initial health assessment of patients from refugee backgrounds.
• Victorian Refugee Health Network Statewide Meetings Quarterly in-person statewide meetings that convene health professionals, community organizations, settlement agencies, and government representatives to share updates, discuss policy, and network across the Victorian refugee health sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,968 humanitarian entrants served in Q4 2025 with 45+ language groups represented

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Network is auspic by Foundation House, which provides operational support and infrastructure. Foundation House has recognised expertise in torture and trauma informed care and provides professional and organisational development to individuals and organisations involved in service delivery to people of refugee backgrounds.
• Victorian Government Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Network is funded by the Victorian Government's Department of Health, providing the primary funding for network operations and activities.
• Refugee Council of AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides policy updates at statewide meetings and collaborates on advocacy efforts. RCOA provides factsheets on how to apply for protection as a refugee in Australia.
• AMES AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides settlement updates at statewide meetings and is involved in humanitarian settlement support services for newly arrived refugees.
• Network of Asylum Seeker Agencies Victoria (NASAVic)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of Victorian agencies involved in supporting and advocating for people seeking asylum. Monthly meetings help service providers communicate and collaborate on common issues.
• National Refugee Nutrition Network (NRNN)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnects health and nutrition professionals working with, or researching, people from a refugee background to share knowledge, resources, best practice, and clinical challenges.
• Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerECCV operates the Multicultural Mental Health Network and Statewide Disability Network, collaborating on mental health needs of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
• Dr. Linny Kimly PhuongminorOthersInfectious diseases paediatrician and VRHN Executive Group member who provides expert videos on RSV and other health topics for refugee communities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• AMES Australia: Major Victorian humanitarian settlement provider delivering settlement, language and employment services. Comparable as a partner organisation supporting newly arrived refugees in Victoria, intersecting with VRHN's health coordination role.
• Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA): Australia's national refugee advocacy body and VRHN partner. Comparable as a coordinating/advocacy organisation in the refugee sector, though RCOA operates at a national policy level while VRHN is state-focused on health.
• Royal Melbourne Hospital Refugee Health Fellowship Program: Hospital-based clinical fellowship serving refugees at Royal Melbourne Hospital, coordinated with VRHN. Comparable as a Victorian provider of refugee-specific clinical care and sector workforce development.

Regional players

• Settlement Services International (SSI): Large NSW-based settlement and humanitarian services provider delivering refugee support across multiple sectors. Comparable in coordinating services for refugees and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
• NSW Refugee Health Service: New South Wales–based refugee health service providing clinical care, health assessments and sector coordination. Comparable in function (refugee health coordination and service delivery) but operates in a different state jurisdiction.
• Torture and Trauma Survivors Service (TTS) Western Australia: WA-based service supporting survivors of torture and trauma from refugee backgrounds. Comparable in mission and trauma-informed service delivery but focused on Western Australia.

Direct peers

• The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House): VRHN's auspicing organisation and operational backbone, providing trauma-informed services to refugee survivors of torture in Victoria. Directly comparable as a Victorian refugee welfare/health organisation; VRHN is structurally embedded within Foundation House.
• Queensland Refugee Health Network (QRHN): Queensland state-based refugee health network providing resources, training and coordination for health professionals working with refugees. Closest functional peer to VRHN, replicating its model in another Australian state.
• Network of Asylum Seeker Agencies Victoria (NASAVic): Victorian network of agencies supporting and advocating for people seeking asylum. Directly comparable as a Victoria-based sector coordination network for asylum/refugee service providers.
• Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV): Victorian peak body for ethnic communities operating the Multicultural Mental Health Network and Statewide Disability Network. Directly comparable as a Victorian coordinating/advocacy network linking communities with health and social services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Victorian Refugee Health Network