Those who organise and deliver health services to migrants are predominantly of Anglo‐Celtic origin. They have had little opportunity either through their life experiences or through their professional training to become aware of the political, economic and social conditions that existed in Australia following the second world war. This paper describes the five main phases of post World War II immigration and explores the origins of social attitudes that underpin the responses of some members of the receiving society to the arrival of successive waves of immigrants. While the ethic upon which migration has been based has moved from assimilationist through integrationist, to that of ethic minorities with minority's rights, the ethic informing the delivery of health services seems to have remained, predominantly, in the assimilationist mould. Structural changes which have occurred, such as interpreter services, tend to entrench further existing health care delivery practices, averting the need for far reaching change. The experiences of some therapists attached to the Occupational Therapy Industrial Unit of Royal South Sydney Hospital are reviewed and some strategies to reduce the impact of an “accident victim syndrome” through preventative intervention at the workplace are discussed. It is suggested that more documentation of the experience of therapists caring for patients with a migrant background may lead to improved patient care. 1985 Occupational Therapy Australia Limited

Immigration rehabilitation Migrant health care

Short Survey patient care social aspect ethnic or racial aspects geographic distribution rehabilitation psychological aspect methodology therapy organization and management human migrant