In summary, consultation and greater coordination between all service providers should be undertaken prior and subsequent to the refuges' arrival. Service providers consulted should be inclusive, ie, those who work with refugees on the ground. The service providers should be informed of the numbers, background, and anticipated location of arrivals to allow appropriate ethnospecific agencies and humanitarian workers coordination of their community support to supplement and complement the government's. Certainly, the government's role in the provision of housing, health, and education is not in question, but NGOs should be acting as a link to ensure that, for example, healthcare professionals are cognizant and respectful of the cultural and/or religious mores of their clients. There should be regular forums on a local regional level and then feeding into a state forum. Perhaps it could be modeled on the Refugee Support Network, where representatives of government departments are invited, along with interested NGO representatives, meeting on a monthly basis to identify issues for discussion.

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refuge Australia New South Wales Sydney nongovernmental organization service provision