Utopia is a refugee and asylum seeker health service providing primary care at no or low cost to refugees and asylum seekers regardless of their Medicare status.
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Utopia is a registered charity established by people who believe in health as a human right and that refugees and asylum seekers require services tailored to their needs.
What makes us unique
Many organisations across Melbourne do excellent work with refugees and asylum seekers. Here’s what sets Utopia apart.​​
​​Location, location, location
We are based in Melbourne’s far west, in the heart of where thousands of refugees and people seeking asylum live. People can access care close to home.
Truly grassroots
Utopia is built by individuals and small businesses, not big corporations. Community members, like Karen refugee Philip Moo Eh, helped with construction and set up.
Tailor-made for refugees and asylum seekers
Refugee health is our core focus, not an add on to mainstream care. We provide longer appointments, interpreters and onsite treatment, reducing unnecessary specialist visits.
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We're free for asylum seekers
We provide pro bono GP services for people seeking asylum. Removing cost barriers ensures timely access to quality primary care close to where people live.​​
Dr Lester Mascarenhas
Founder
General Practitioner Refugee Health, MBChB FRACGP MPH
Dr Lester Mascarenhas has worked in cross-cultural medicine for more than a decade, beginning with First Nations Australians in remote communities and later with refugees and asylum seekers in Melbourne. He completed his medical training in the UK, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and holds a master’s in public health and a diploma in tropical medicine.
Refugees and asylum seekers are among Melbourne’s most disadvantaged communities. Many arrive after years of persecution, prolonged displacement and, for some, perilous journeys at significant financial and human cost, only to encounter new barriers on arrival. Dr Mascarenhas is dedicated to addressing these barriers by improving access to quality, affordable healthcare.
Our story
Utopia was founded by seven people led by Dr Lester Mascarenhas. The idea took shape around Lester’s dining table, with good food, moderate wine, and robust debate.
For four years before opening, we spent time in Melbourne’s west listening to refugees and working alongside Karen and Karenni communities through cultural and musical programs to build trust. We heard that government health services were not meeting needs. People wanted longer appointments, interpreters, staff from refugee backgrounds, and clinicians experienced in their health issues.
With no state support, we built the service with support from community organisations. A builder connected to a refugee rights activist fitted out our premises, equipment was crowdfunded, furniture came from a Sun Cinema fundraiser, and communities and clinicians pitched in. Together, we built Utopia.
With gratitude to the Utopia team: Alex Fearnside, Alistair McKeown, Ben Thompson-Star, Lynette O’Dwyer, Meredith Temple-Smith and Sarah Chong.
The team and members of our family at one of our six-monthly social events. The photo was taken at Chocolate Buddha restaurant in Melbourne CBD in July 2023
Current positions
We currently have no vacant positions. Do feel free to reach out to us if you have an enquiry. We are always looking to collaborate and partner with others and there may be future positions that may suit you.
We accept advanced GP registrars through the RACGP training program. A placement at Utopia will give registrars a unique experience with the support of two experienced and passionate supervisors. As a committed teaching practice, we make time to prioritise teaching for our registrars.
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Registrars interested in a position at Utopia should apply via the RACGP biennial intake process. Potential applicants are welcome to contact Utopia to discuss the positions prior to applying.
Our board
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