New beginnings: Refugee settlement outcomes in Australia

A final report into settlement outcomes for refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan was released this week. 

The report, led by UTS Professor Jock Collins, Professor Carol Reid from Western Sydney University and Associate Professor Dimitria Groutsis from the University of Sydney, found that settlement outcomes such as education, language, employment and belonging all improved significantly over time (between 2017-2022). 

"These evidence-based findings demonstrate that Australian refugee intakes can be substantially increased," Professor Collins said.

The research provided the most comprehensive contemporary insight into refugee family settlement in Australia by following 246 refugee families from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan living in suburban and regional areas in NSW, Qld and Vic. 

Settlement outcomes were very strong, improving each phase. These refugee families are very thankful for the opportunity of a safe haven and want to repay Australian society by becoming successful Australian citizens.

Professor Jock Collins

The report looks at regional vs metropolitan refugee settlement experiences, and family, social class, and religious dimensions of the refugee settlement experience. It is enlivened by detailed quotes from the refugee adults and youth about their experiences, their aspirations and their hopes and concerns about their families’ life in Australia.

Young refugees were very impressive in their confidence and strong aspirations. Right from the start over three in four rated their educational experience as ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’. 

Two in three young refugees felt that they belonged ‘most of the time’ or ‘always’. Most young refugees had more than two friends, with more than half reporting that they had five or more friends from different backgrounds.

“Refugee intakes are the most controversial aspect of Australian immigration policy. The Abbott government permitted a special Syrian-conflict intake in addition to the annual humanitarian intake. Most were university educated Christians from Syria and Iraq. We wanted to know what happened to them," Professor Collins said.

"To find out we interviewed and surveyed adult and young refugees in their homes on three occasions with Afghan families included as a 'control’ group. Settlement outcomes were very strong, improving each phase. These refugee families are very thankful for the opportunity of a safe haven and want to repay Australian society by becoming successful Australian citizens.”

The ARC funded research project was supported by industry partners Settlement Services International (SSI, NSW and Logan), Multicultural Australia (MA, Brisbane and Toowoomba) and AMES (Melbourne and Shepparton).

Read the Final Report:

Refuge and Family Futures in Australia: Settlement outcomes of recently arrived refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan: Executive Summary (pdf, 318.5 KB)

Refuge and Family Futures in Australia: Settlement outcomes of recently arrived refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan: Final Report (pdf, 3.1MB)

Further details of the project can be found here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/business/our-research/research-groups/migrants-work-research-group.html