Needs of migrants examined

Press, 13 May 1988, Page 6

Needs of migrants examined

By

OLIVER RIDDELL,

in Wellington

A more widely focused social policy to recognise the needs of migrants has been called for by the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr Cullen. He was opening the first national conference on Refugee Settlement and Well-being in Wellington yesterday. The conference is ex-

amining refugee resettlement and adjustment, and is organised under the auspices of the Mental Health Foundation, the Inter-Church Commission on Immigration and Refugee Resettlement, and the Health Department.

Dr Cullen said he would recommend to the Cabinet a comprehehsive social services policy for

refugees and immigrants. Government policy had concentrated on official refugee assistance directed towards immigration, employment and income maintenance.

While there was a range of services run through Government departments and the voluntary agencies, greater coordination could see their availability and effective-

ness for refugees greatly enhanced, he said.

The conference director, Dr Max Abbott, said its main object was to provide a national forum to identify measures to promote refugee mental health, improve cross-cul-tural counselling skills, and learn ways to help victims of torture and seyjpus trauma. While there were posi-

five aspects to New Zealand's record in helping' refugees, there were indications of shortcomings as well, he said. Many refugees continued to suffer while here and there were gaping holes in the support networks for them. Significant numbers were so distressed that they sought to return home, at great risk .Jto themselves aid their'families.