Health in a New Home: Improving the health of refugees across generations

Health in a New Home will be the world’s first study to examine multi-generational health and health service use in whole populations.

This project will significantly advance knowledge in refugee health by leading the first national longitudinal population-based data linkage study and mixed methods research.

Three people looking at a phone in front of a building

Our key research areas

Child health
Sexual and reproductive health
Mental Health
Alcohol and other drugs
Infectious diseases and vaccination
Chronic disease, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes
Ageing
Palliative care

Find out about

Learn more about the project by reading our study protocol (open access)

The problem

The long-term health and well-being of refugees, their families and subsequent generations is unknown in Australia and globally. We lack an evidence-based plan to address needs.

There is no engagement of refugees in decision-making in the design of health services, and there are significant knowledge gaps of refugee priority health issues, health service needs, and available resources. This hinders the health system to deliver culturally appropriate, cost-effective high-quality care.

The challenge

Comprehensive, longitudinal health data are needed to assess the social determinants of refugee health now and in the future. Authentic participatory approaches involving refugees and providers are required to co-produce health-promoting environments and responsive health services for refugees.

The solution

The project involves a data-linkage study, a cross-sectional survey with individuals and discussion-based participatory research with communities. This innovative research will deliver a ground-breaking analysis of refugee health status and service use over 20 years to project future needs.

It will also provide an understanding of factors that have contributed to flourishing refugee communities and provide new evidence to plan appropriate cost-effective health services and programs. A roadmap will be designed with refugees to achieve health and evaluate outcomes. This innovative approach will empower refugees, placing them at the centre of their health decision-making. This project has three phases:

PHASE 1: National data linkage study of existing national datasets and those in states with the largest population of refugees (NSW and Victoria).
PHASE 2: Mixed-methods health asset mapping involving a cross-sectional survey and participatory research involving World Café group discussions with refugees in NSW and Victoria.
PHASE 3: Participatory planning using nominal group process to identify health priorities.

Research outcomes

We will deliver a unique national resource of data visualisations of current and projected refugee health outcomes and needs.
We will develop a co-designed roadmap to address refugee health to inform policy and practice.
Our transformative methodology will provide an exemplar for other nations.