Pacific Labour and Australian Horticulture. This 18-month research project will investigate the costs and benefits of increasing labour mobility between the Pacific and Australia, including the feasibility of a seasonal labour program to employ agricultural workers from Pacific Island nations in the Swan Hill/Mildura region during periods of peak labour demand. It will forge a ground-breaking collaboration between an international development agency and local government to investigate how such a ....Pacific Labour and Australian Horticulture. This 18-month research project will investigate the costs and benefits of increasing labour mobility between the Pacific and Australia, including the feasibility of a seasonal labour program to employ agricultural workers from Pacific Island nations in the Swan Hill/Mildura region during periods of peak labour demand. It will forge a ground-breaking collaboration between an international development agency and local government to investigate how such a scheme might contribute simultaneously to economic and social development in Pacific Island nations (through remittances and skills transfers) and in regional Australia (by improving the labour supply to key horticultural industries).Read moreRead less
How migration reshapes labour markets: a study of professional service firms. Australia needs skilled migration to maintain its economic growth and replenish its skill base as the population ages. It needs the skills of migrant accountants. This project will identify the barriers migrants face when seeking work in the financial services industry and discover how migration is changing the financial services labour market.
Leveraging Remittances with Microfinance: A Cross-country Study. This study recognises the high and growing significance of overseas migrant remittances as contributors to GDP and household livelihoods in many countries. It responds to current policy interest in remittances as a development resource, as well as security concerns related to informal funds transfers. This groundbreaking study will work with microfinance providers in six Asia-Pacific countries (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, S ....Leveraging Remittances with Microfinance: A Cross-country Study. This study recognises the high and growing significance of overseas migrant remittances as contributors to GDP and household livelihoods in many countries. It responds to current policy interest in remittances as a development resource, as well as security concerns related to informal funds transfers. This groundbreaking study will work with microfinance providers in six Asia-Pacific countries (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga) to investigate the impacts of remittance-linked financial services on household well-being and economic development. The study will identify how existing and new services can best promote development and poverty reduction in migrant-sending areas.Read moreRead less
Fearing going home: Australia's return of rejected asylum seekers, temporary refugees and others from refugee-like situations. Recent changes in government policy, combined with international political developments, mean that increasing numbers of asylum seekers and temporary refugees are being deemed ineligible for protection and removed from Australia or from Australian-run facilities. Notwithstanding the government's assessment that such people do not have protection needs, many live in acute ....Fearing going home: Australia's return of rejected asylum seekers, temporary refugees and others from refugee-like situations. Recent changes in government policy, combined with international political developments, mean that increasing numbers of asylum seekers and temporary refugees are being deemed ineligible for protection and removed from Australia or from Australian-run facilities. Notwithstanding the government's assessment that such people do not have protection needs, many live in acute fear of their pending return. They may indeed be returned to situations of danger, deprivation and desperate poverty. This project aims to research and document the plight of 'returnees' as they face the prospect of repatriation and then, to the extent possible, after they have been repatriated.Read moreRead less
Australian diasporas and brain gain: exploring current and potential transnational linkages. The research will investigate current and potential future roles of diasporas in both Australia and overseas in facilitating trade and investment. The study will examine their political, cultural and kinship ties with homelands and map the geography of seven diasporas in Australia. This will provide new data that describes the character, motivations and movements of diasporas in Australia. Data analysis ....Australian diasporas and brain gain: exploring current and potential transnational linkages. The research will investigate current and potential future roles of diasporas in both Australia and overseas in facilitating trade and investment. The study will examine their political, cultural and kinship ties with homelands and map the geography of seven diasporas in Australia. This will provide new data that describes the character, motivations and movements of diasporas in Australia. Data analysis will determine the current and potential role diaspora play in adding value to Australian society through 'brain gain' and 'circulation' versus 'brain drain'. Findings will inform migration and social policy aimed at maximising benefits of migration.Read moreRead less
Visual Anthropology of settlement among newly arrived refugee youth. The majority of refugees currently arriving in Australia are youth from the middle-East and the Horn of Africa. These young people face major challenges to successful settlement, often having histories of little or no schooling, exposure to violence, and long-term residence in refugee camps. There is a lack of evidence to inform policy and practice on how to best support these young people. This project will give refugee youth ....Visual Anthropology of settlement among newly arrived refugee youth. The majority of refugees currently arriving in Australia are youth from the middle-East and the Horn of Africa. These young people face major challenges to successful settlement, often having histories of little or no schooling, exposure to violence, and long-term residence in refugee camps. There is a lack of evidence to inform policy and practice on how to best support these young people. This project will give refugee youth the opportunity to learn technical, creative and interpersonal skills, enabling them to share their stories with both researchers and the general public and producing understandings about how they cope with the resettlement process. Read moreRead less
Home Lands: Displaced youth and the development of positive transnational identities in a supportive local context. Home Lands will provide insights into how service providers working with refugee youth can best capitalise on the existing skills and knowledge of displaced youth to assist them in developing positive identities and futures. This will facilitate more positive relationships between refugee youth and the Australian community, and enable Australia to more quickly benefit from the exis ....Home Lands: Displaced youth and the development of positive transnational identities in a supportive local context. Home Lands will provide insights into how service providers working with refugee youth can best capitalise on the existing skills and knowledge of displaced youth to assist them in developing positive identities and futures. This will facilitate more positive relationships between refugee youth and the Australian community, and enable Australia to more quickly benefit from the existing cultural and social capital of new arrivals who currently experience marginalisation. The investigation of the process will also contribute to improved community development and refugee service delivery.Read moreRead less
Promoting Well-Being in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups: Towards Evidence-Based Practice. In order to serve families from diverse communities properly, we require models of well-being that reflect the unique circumstances of their lives and culture. At present, the helping professions lack models of well-being that are sensitive to cultural diversity. Therefore, the study will develop models of well-being that are unique to four different cultural groups: Anglo-Australians, Vietnam ....Promoting Well-Being in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Groups: Towards Evidence-Based Practice. In order to serve families from diverse communities properly, we require models of well-being that reflect the unique circumstances of their lives and culture. At present, the helping professions lack models of well-being that are sensitive to cultural diversity. Therefore, the study will develop models of well-being that are unique to four different cultural groups: Anglo-Australians, Vietnamese, Maltese and Italians. We will compare community members' conceptions of well-being with those of the professionals helping them. The research will produce theory regarding cross-cultural well-being and will inform practice as well.Read moreRead less
Comparing immigration policy in the group of five: developing an evidence base for evaluating the role of policy in international migration. Testing the impact of immigration policy is an interdisciplinary, multi-national study evaluating the policy management of immigration movements over 50 years and across the five countries Australia uses as comparators. It includes a detailed study of measures to deter and otherwise control irregular migration.
Social Networks, Belonging and Active Citizenship among Migrant Youth in Australia. This project will focus on youth from three Australian migrant communities at the centre of recent debates about migrant integration, intercultural conflict and social cohesion. It will investigate the role of formal and informal networks in creating among migrant youth a sense of belonging to the mainstream society. The project redresses a critical gap in popular and official understandings of the social fabric ....Social Networks, Belonging and Active Citizenship among Migrant Youth in Australia. This project will focus on youth from three Australian migrant communities at the centre of recent debates about migrant integration, intercultural conflict and social cohesion. It will investigate the role of formal and informal networks in creating among migrant youth a sense of belonging to the mainstream society. The project redresses a critical gap in popular and official understandings of the social fabric of Australia and will provide benchmark data for improved government and community services in the area of migrant youth. It will examine and assess the role of social networks in informing young people's sense of belonging and active participation in the community of citizens.Read moreRead less