Table 1 Baseline characteristics of humanitarian refugees in the Building A New Life in Australia project, 2013–14 (weighted data)
Characteristic | Description | Response | Total (n = 2399)* |
|---|---|---|---|
Age, mean (years) | Age | – | 35.5 (13.9) |
Age category (years) | Age category | 14–18 | 218 (9.1%) |
19–25 | 523 (21.8%) | ||
26–35 | 696 (29.0%) | ||
36–45 | 475 (19.8%) | ||
46–55 | 272 (11.4%) | ||
56–65 | 143 (6.0%) | ||
65+ | 69 (2.9%) | ||
Gender | Gender | Male | 1295 (54.0%) |
Female | 1103 (46.0%) | ||
Married or partnered | Married or has partner | Yes | 1375 (61.0%) |
No | 879 (39.0%) | ||
Region of birth | Major groups based on the Standard Australian Classification of Countries major groups | Middle East | 1073 (45.0%) |
Central Asia | 482 (20.2%) | ||
Southern Asia | 332 (14.0%) | ||
South-East Asia | 226 (9.5%) | ||
Africa | 273 (11.4%) | ||
Education level, pre-arrival | Highest level of education achieved prior to arrival in Australia | Never attended school | 350 (14.8%) |
< 6 years of school | 419 (17.7%) | ||
6–12 years of school | 1171 (49.4%) | ||
Trade or tech qualification | 142 (6.0%) | ||
University degree | 87 (12.1%) | ||
English speaking proficiency | Currently understands spoken English | Very well/well | 793 (33.6%) |
Not well/not at all | 1571 (66.4%) | ||
No. pre-migration trauma experienced | Number of pre-migration traumas experienced | None | 248 (11.2%) |
1–2 | 1286 (57.9%) | ||
3 or more | 689 (31.0%) | ||
Migration pathway | Arrived in Australia via onshore†or offshore migration pathway††| Onshore pathway | 458 (19.1%) |
Offshore pathway | 1940 (80.9%) | ||
Spent time in offshore Immigration Detention Centre(s) | Spent time in offshore Immigration Detention Centre(s) prior to resettlement | Yes | 202 (8.6%) |
No | 2146 (91.4%) | ||
Duration of stay in Australia | Length of time spent in Australia | Less than 1 year | 1968 (82.1%) |
1–2 years | 271 (11.3%) | ||
2–3 years | 76 (3.2%) | ||
More than 3 years | 84 (3.5%) | ||
Region of settlement in Australia | Region of settlement in Australia | Metropolitan cities | 2174 (90.7%) |
Inner regional Australia | 184 (7.7%) | ||
Outer regional Australia | 39 (1.7%) | ||
Currently in paid employment | Currently in paid employment in Australia | Yes | 143 (9.3%) |
No | 1403 (90.7%) | ||
Main income source in Australia | Main source of income in Australia | Own salary/income | 180 (7.7%) |
Government support | 2059 (88.0%) | ||
Other | 101 (4.3%) | ||
No. daily financial hardships | Number of daily financial hardships experienced in Australia | None | 1307 (57.8%) |
1–2 | 654 (29.0%) | ||
3–4 | 240 (10.7%) | ||
5–6 | 59 (2.6%) | ||
Undertaken further study/training in Australia | Undertaken study or job training in Australia, other than English language classes | Yes | 410 (17.4%) |
No | 1956 (82.6%) | ||
Stress-language barriers | Language barriers as main source of stress in Australia | Yes | 1279 (56.0%) |
No | 1009 (44.0%) | ||
Stress-work situation | Work situation as main source of stress in Australia (eg unemployment, hours of work, conditions) | Yes | 754 (33.0%) |
No | 1534 (67.0%) | ||
Stress-housing situation | Work situation as main source of stress in Australia (eg lack of suitable or affordable housing) | Yes | 659 (28.1%) |
No | 1629 (71.2%) | ||
Stress-loneliness | Loneliness as main source of stress in Australia | Yes | 363 (15.9%) |
No | 1926 (84.1%) | ||
Received any social support | Received any religious, like ethnic or community support in Australia | Yes | 859 (35.8%) |
No | 1539 (64.2%) | ||
Has long term disability, injury or health condition | Presence of absence of long-term health condition that has lasted or is likely to last > 12 mths | Yes | 859 (35.8%) |
No | 1539 (64.2%) |