About the study
Project update
We are pleased to have had the opportunity to reconnect with so many participants in the last few weeks and hope to connect with many more of you before the end of field work. If you haven’t completed a survey this year it’d be great if you could reach out to us by sending an email to info@bnla.com.au or call 1800 328 999 before 30 June 2023. For more information, Information for participants.
About BNLA
Australia has a long tradition of welcoming humanitarian migrants. Many have experienced significant traumatic events and were forced to leave their home country. Understanding how humanitarian migrants integrate into the new society and culture is critical to the development of effective policy and program responses.
Background
In 2012, The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) was commissioned by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to design and undertake a longitudinal study of humanitarian migrants. This is a study that follows the same humanitarian migrants over time. In April 2014, the Department of Social Services (DSS) took oversight for the study.
Aims and Significance
The Longitudinal Study of Humanitarian Migrants, known as Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) aims to better understand the factors that aid or hinder the successful settlement of humanitarian migrants in Australia. It provides a research evidence base to inform policy and program development.
BNLA is the first comprehensive study of its kind in more than a decade. The information gathered will be used to inform the development, improvement and targeting of evidence-based policies and programs for humanitarian migrants in Australia.
Previous Waves
This ground-breaking longitudinal study employed annual data collections over five years in Waves 1-5 (2013-2018) to trace the settlement journey of humanitarian migrants from their arrival in Australia through to their eligibility for citizenship. All study participants received a permanent humanitarian visa enabling them to settle in Australia, granted either before their arrival as part of Australia’s refugee program, or since their arrival, through Australia’s asylum seeker humanitarian program.
Some facts
- Close to 2,400 individuals are taking part.
- The majority arrived in Australia in 2013, and experienced trauma and persecution before their arrival.
- Participants are asked questions covering a range of key domains, including:
- demographic information
- housing
- language proficiency
- education
- employment and income
- pre-migration experiences
- health
- self-sufficiency
- community support
- life satisfaction
- perceptions of life in Australia.
About the BNLA cohort
Acknowledgement
Building a New Life in Australia is commissioned and funded by the Department of Social Services. The project is being undertaken by the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Data are collected by Kantar (previously known as Colmar Brunton Social Research) in conjunction with Multicultural Marketing and Management.
