Table 4: Barriers to employment for refugees as identified by interviewees Pre-Migration Australia • Exposure to violence, instability and persecution • Mental health issues due to pre- and post-migration experiences • Physical disability / health problems • Lack of / limited education • Disrupted education due to long periods in camps / exposure to violence and instability • Illiteracy / low levels of literacy • Low English proficiency / communication and language barriers • Limited qualifications / skills (particularly amongst older age groups) • Lack of knowledge about the Australian labour market • Lack of opportunities / finances to have skills recognised • Lack of knowledge / awareness about skills recognition processes • Lack of driver’s licence / difficulty accessing transport • No opportunity to scope / research the Australian labour market • Lack of established networks • Limited capacity / capability of job network providers • Lack of work experience in Australia • Experiences of racism and discrimination • Lack of documentation prior to migration • Lack of / limited knowledge about Australian workplace culture • Lack of documentation on arrival • Misinformation about employment opportunities • Difficulty accessing / sustaining employment and training opportunities • Unrealistic expectations around employment opportunities Professor Hugo’s report also highlighted the importance of English language training in helping humanitarian entrants in the labour market. A higher proportion of humanitarian entrants have limited English, with the 2006 Census showing that some 36.5 per cent rate themselves as speaking English not well or not at all, compared with an average of 25 per cent for all migrants. The Census data also shows that the unemployment rate decreases and the labour participation rate increases with greater proficiency in spoken English.
Table 14: Resettlement program: visa grants by region, 1998–99 to 2009–1011 Rank 1 2 3 4 5 1998–99 Europe 49.7% Middle East and SW Asia 30.6% Africa 16.3% Asia 3.1% Americas 0.3% 1999–00 Europe 45.6% Middle East and SW Asia 29.8% Africa 22.7% Asia 1.6% Americas 0.3% 2000–01 Europe 43.3% Middle East and SW Asia 27.0% Africa 25.4% Asia 4.0% Americas 0.3% 2001–02 Africa 33.1% Middle East and SW Asia 32.4% Europe 32.0% Asia 2.2% Americas 0.2% 2002–03 Africa 48.3% Middle East and SW Asia 39.9% Europe 9.9% Asia 1.8% Americas <0.1% 2003–04 Africa 70.8% Middle East and SW Asia 24.3% Europe 3.0% Asia 1.9% Americas <0.1% 2004–05 Africa 70.1% Middle East and SW Asia 26.2% Asia 3.4% Europe 0.2% Americas <0.1% 2005–06 Africa 55.7% Middle East and SW Asia 34.0% Asia 9.9% Europe 0.4% Americas <0.1% 2006–07 Africa 50.9% Middle East and SW Asia 28.0% Asia 20.7% Europe 0.4% Americas <0.1% 2007–08 Middle East and SW Asia 35.3% Asia 33.7% Africa 30.5% Europe 0.6% Americas <0.1% 2008–09 Middle East and SW Asia 33.5% Africa 33.2% Asia 33.1% Europe 0.1% Americas <0.1% 2009–10 Asia 38.6% Middle East and SW Asia 31.8% Africa 29.2% Europe 0.3% Americas 0.1%
Appendix C: More information A full copy of the report is available from DIAC’s website at Further information on Australia’s Humanitarian Program and settlement services for humanitarian entrants can be found in a range of publications available on DIAC’s website (www.immi.gov.au). These include: • Empowering Refugees: A Good Practice Guide to Humanitarian Settlement • Fact Sheet 60 – Australia’s Refugee and Humanitarian Program • Fact Sheet 66 – Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy • Fact Sheet 97 – Humanitarian Settlement in Regional Australia • Fact Sheet 98 – Settlement Services for Refugees • New Beginnings – Supporting New Arrivals on their Settlement Journey • Refugee and Humanitarian Issues: Australia’s Response • Settlement Outcomes of New Arrivals new-arrivals.pdf