Foundation House - Understanding and working with chronic pain: supporting people from refugee backgrounds

This interactive 2-day workshop explores culturally responsive approaches to the assessment and treatment of chronic pain using a bio-psychosocial, multidisciplinary model of care. Participants will develop an understanding of the complex factors that influence chronic pain experiences and learn practical strategies to deliver effective, person-centred care.

Drawing on the practice experience of Foundation House staff and guest speakers from medical and allied health backgrounds the workshop examines how chronic pain can be intensified for people from refugee backgrounds due to the ongoing impacts of trauma, displacement, and settlement challenges. It also explores the barriers individuals may face when navigating complex and often fragmented health and support systems.

Through evidence-informed learning and practical case-scenarios, participants will strengthen their ability to provide culturally appropriate assessment, treatment, and support for people experiencing chronic pain in refugee and asylum seeker communities.

What you’ll learn:

• The relationship between traumatic experiences, pain and health interventions, and recovery approaches
• Understanding pain as multidimensional and part of a body protection system
• Current and emerging evidence-based approaches to pain management
• Interdisciplinary approaches to pain management for survivors of torture and trauma
• Complementary Therapy approaches, and client/patient engagement skills when working with chronic pain

Workshop Style - Learn through presentations, exercises that bring theory into practical application, and discussions in large and small groups.

Certificates & Handouts - A PDF of the Slides and a Certificate of Completion will be emailed to you after the event.

CPD Points - This workshop adheres to the continuing professional development standards of most professional bodies. Please check the CPD policy of your professional body.

Who should attend?

Medical, nursing, and allied health staff working with clients/patients from refugee and asylum seeking backgrounds.

Assumed knowledge/pre-requisite:

Participants will be expected to have completed either a Foundation House Introductory workshop, or ‘Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Experiences’ online (provided in two modules, taking approximately two hours to complete).

The online option is available free as a pre-requisite when you register for this workshop.

Facilitators:

Kristina Dellosa, Foundation House Facilitator. Kristina is a Clinical Psychologist and educator with over a decade of experience across Victoria’s public mental health sector. Driven by a deep passion for cultural diversity and equitable access to care, her ongoing work centres on dismantling systemic barriers and aspiring that vulnerable communities receive culturally responsive, affirming support.

Prior to joining Foundation House in 2026, Kristina served as a Senior Psychology Educator at Western Health, where she focused on workforce capacity-building, instructional design, and equipping multidisciplinary teams with evidence-based frameworks to navigate complex trauma.

Guest Speakers:

Dr David Kelly, Senior Lecturer Melbourne School Health Sciences, University of Melbourne. David is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, where he teaches across the Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) program in the Musculoskeletal field. David also works as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Zakia Ebrahim, Massage Therapist, Complimentary Therapies, Foundation House. Zak is a Remedial Massage Therapist and Somatic Mind-Body Practitioner working at Foundation House for the past 16 years. In her previous working life she worked in a variety of roles with Human Services and Department of Justice.

Dr Joanne Gardiner, GP/ refugee health fellow. Joanne has worked in the Foundation House Mental Health Clinic.