P05.08. A study of complementary therapies and counselling: an integrative model for refugee health care

Purpose Two qualitative research studies were conducted to examine the experiences of refugee women involved in a complementary therapies (CT) program and to investigate counsellors’ reasons for referral to CT. Combined, the two studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of this innovative model of integrative health care. The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, known as ‘Foundation House’, is a mental health service for refugees and asylum seekers in Melbourne, Australia. The organisation was established in 1987 and within two years incorporated a CT program with the aim to provide a holistic and culturally relevant health care approach. The inclusion of CT (naturopathy, Western herbal medicine, massage, yoga, nutritional and dietary advice) as a core component of the service delivery positioned the organisation as one of the first Westernbased torture trauma services to fully integrate psychological care and non-biomedical health care practices.