Horn of Africa migrants in Adelaide and Melbourne.

Abstract

In Australia the Horn of African migrants are one of the fastest growing migrant communities. The majority of these migrants arrived under the refugee and humanitarian resettlement program. This study focuses on the social networks of these migrants and the impact of remittances they send on them, as well as on the lives of their families back home. The study begins with an analysis of the major trends and characteristics of migration from the Horn of Africa to Australia. The study examines different types of formal and informal social networks that migrants develop and which are used as coping strategies to address their personal, social, financial, and emotional problems. It is based on a survey of migrant settlers from the Horn of Africa. The survey also found that family and ethnic owned remittance providers play formidable roles in facilitating the cheap, fast and reliable sending of remittances from Australia to rural and remote areas (including refugee camps) in Africa. In addition to their roles in fighting poverty and improving the living and human development conditions in Africa, remittances link family and maintain social networks with those left behind, and they also are used to influence the political landscapes of their countries of origin. Due to their lack of English language and relevant labour market skills, many of the Horn of African migrants studied are unemployed and dependent on the social welfare system. Despite high unemployment rates and dependence on the social welfare system, the majority (the employed, under employed and unemployed) of these migrants send money to support their families and friends stranded in precarious situations in asylum countries and in their country of origin. However, while they believe that their remittances have improved the lives of their families back home, they openly admitted that sending money has affected their lives and reduced the quality of lifestyles of their families in Australia. The study examines a number of aspects of the lives of Horn of African immigrants in Australia, especially their engagement with the labour market, housing, social networks, the social and economic cost of not recognizing overseas qualifications and work experiences, the long and short term health consequences and the economic and social costs of allowing the import, selling and consumption of “Khat”. A number of conclusions are made regarding policies on settlement of refugees from Africa in Australia.