Foundations for Belonging

Foundations for Belonging was established by SSI to shine a light on aspects of refugee settlement and integration that are often overlooked in Australian research: refugees’ social connections and their access to rights and fulfilment of responsibilities. Research tends to focus on refugees’ education, employment, English proficiency and health whereas Foundations for Belonging is concerned with the social and civic dimensions of integration.

The first phase of the research was published in 2020. Each subsequent phase has highlighted different focus areas including: women and digital inclusion (2021); family separation and reunion during the COVID-19 pandemic (2022); refugees’ understanding of First Nations histories and issues (2023); and the settlement experiences of refugees with disability (2025).

The research is conducted by SSI in partnership with the Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University.