External Resource: Foundations for Belonging Report
June 18th, 2026
Foundations for Belonging Report
The Settlement Services International (SSI) Foundations for Belonging Report (2025), which explores insights on refugees with disability in Australia, finds that social isolation and digital exclusion hinder settlement outcomes for people with disability.
The report details the fifth phase of research conducted with newly arrived refugees in Australia. This phase explores the lived experiences of refugees with disability, shining a light on aspects of settlement and integration that are often overlooked in Australian research.
The findings point to the need to strengthen support for social connections and improve access to digital services during the settlement period. While refugees with disability were relatively adept at using technology to connect with friends and family, they reported limited digital skills and minimal use of the internet for everyday tasks, including online shopping, English language study, and accessing services.
Overall, the research highlights the interdependencies between different domains of integration and the intersecting barriers that hinder inclusion. Successful settlement relies on whole-of-community approaches and coordinated action from refugees, host communities, and government at all levels.
To download the report, visit Foundations for Belonging| SSI