Notes on the data: Migration Program and Humanitarian Program

Humanitarian Program, Family Stream and Skill Stream, 2021

 

Policy context: Alongside the USA, Canada and New Zealand, Australia is regarded as one of the world’s leading immigration destinations. However, Australia, due to its geography, population and history, is one of the relatively few countries able to regulate, through policies and laws, which migrants should be admitted [1].

The Migration Program for skilled and family entrants and the Humanitarian Program for refuges and those in refugee-like situations make up the two formal programs that facilitate the arrival of permanent migrants into Australia. In August 2021 there were 3.0 million permanent migrants who had arrived in Australia since 2000 and were recorded in the 2021 Australian Census and Migrants Integrated Dataset; 59% (1,761,000) had migrated under the Skilled visa stream, 32% (962,400) under the Family stream, and 9% (283,600) under the Humanitarian visa stream [2].

Migrants other than those under the Humanitarian Program generally have better health than the Australian born population in terms of mortality, hospitalisation rates and prevalence of health risk factors associated with lifestyle. While this is largely attributed to the ‘healthy migrant effect’ – an eligibility requirement for migrants to be in good health in their migration application – this advantage is said to decline over time to levels similar to the Australian born population. In the 2021 Australian Census and Migrants Integrated Dataset the highest reported long-term health condition for all permanent migrants was Asthma (3.9%), which was also the highest for skilled visa migrants (3.9%), however mental health condition was highest for Family visa migrants (4.3%), and diabetes was highest for Humanitarian visa migrants (5.9%) [2.]. Nonetheless, the health status of migrants can vary depending on birthplace country, age, socioeconomic background, English language proficiency, education and income level [3].

Those from non-English speaking backgrounds could be prevented from accessing information and services relating to health due to language and cultural barriers resulting in lower health literacy rates. This is not too dissimilar for elderly migrants who also require culturally- and linguistically-appropriate services [4].

References

  1. Crock M and Parsons. Australia as a modern migration state: Past and present. Background paper to the World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies. April 2023. URL: https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/659cc1ee23366043a8581072c718b531-0050062023/original/Australia-and-Migration-2022-23-FORMATTED.pdf, accessed 8 January 2024.
  2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Permanent migrants in Australia [Internet]. Canberra: ABS; 2021 Available from: URL: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/people-and-communities/permanent-migrants-australia/latest-release, accessed 8 January 2024.
  3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Australian health inequalities, 2012 (Bulletin no. 2). URL: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/d99c3ce2-2525-46db-82da-605d16ccf6d9/bulletin02.pdf.aspx?inline=true, accessed 8 March 2019.
  4. Smith L. The health outcomes of migrants: A literature review, 2015. Migration Council Australia. URL: http://migrationcouncil.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/2015_Smith.pdf, accessed 8 March 2019.
  5. Department of Home Affairs, Immigration and citizenship. Ending the COVID-19 Concession Period URL: . https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1147, accessed 8 January 2024.
  6. Department of Home Affairs. 2022-2023 Migration Program FAQ URL: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/programs-subsite/files/faq-2022-23-migration-program.pdf, accessed 8 January 2024.
    7.  

    Note regarding impact of COVID-19:

    From the 1st of February 2020 to the 25th of November 2023 the Australian Federal Government imposed international travel restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] The COVID-19 restrictions prevented the entry of international arrivals and caused disruption to normal operations which prevented people from meeting visa requirements, such English language tests, biometric and health examinations, and obtaining police clearances [5].

    During this time the Federal Government provided concessions for applicants of certain visa subclasses who were affected by the international travel restrictions, which included where the applicant must be located at the time of their application [5].

    In 2022-23 the Permanent Migration Program allocated a total of 195,000 places with the majority 142,400 places to the Skill stream and 52,500 to the Family stream [6]. This is an increase from 160,000 in 2021-22, and is aimed at attracting additional offshore skilled migrants, to help ease critical skills and workforce shortages that have occurred due to COVID-19 related restrictions, illness, an ageing population, and an increase in the number of people reaching retirement age [6]. The larger Permanent Migration program in 2022-23 is also focused on retaining temporary migrants who are already part of the workforce and other temporary migrants to return, through the provision of more pathways to permanency. [6]

    There has been an increase in Parent visas from 4,500 in 2021-22 to 8,500 in 2022-23, to allow more parents to come into Australia to strengthen family and community bonds, and provide childcare or other family responsibilities [6]. The Other Family (the Aged Dependent Relative, Remaining Relative and Carer programs) visa category was maintained at 500 places.

    Overseas migration arrivals by visa type

    Permanent Visa Type 2018-19 ‘000 2021-2022 ‘000 2022-23 ‘000
    Family 24.3 25.9 21.1
    Skilled 38.2 28.1 35.0
    Special eligibility and humanitarian 15.3 7.8 12.7

    Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022-23-financial-year, Overseas Migration, ABS, viewed 8 January 2024, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/overseas-migration/2022-23-financial-year.

    Additional notes

    These data do not include asylum seekers who have left their country and are seeking protection.

     

    Geography:  Data available by Population Health Area, Local Government Area, Primary Health Network, Quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage of area, and Remoteness Area

     

    Numerator:  People arrived between: 1 January 2000 and 9th August 2011;1 January 2000 and 9th August 2016; 1 January 2000 and 10 August 2021 under the Humanitarian Program/ Family stream/ Skill stream

     

    Denominator:  Total population (ERP)

     

    Detail of analysis:  Per cent

     

    Source:  Compiled by PHIDU based on the ABS Census and Migrants Integrated Dataset, 2021

     

    © PHIDU, Torrens University Australia This content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Australia licence.