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ABC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Almost half of refugees suffering from 'occupational downgrade' 10 years after settling
Engineer Sam Matti worked at a power plant in Baghdad, helping maintain electricity to the war-torn capital of Iraq. But he fled after the Islamic State group threatened him, putting his life and career on hold. He spent two years in a refugee camp in Turkey before finally resettling in Australia in 2015. "As an automation engineer, I was really hopeful to find something in my field in Australia," he said. But his engineering bachelor's degree from Iraq was not recognised in Australia, and instead he spent the next two years working in casual jobs, cleaning construction sites and catering at aged care homes. "You feel disheartened," he said. Sam's story has been echoed in a new report from the Department of Social Services' Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). The report found that after arriving in Australia, most refugees struggled to have their skills and qualifications recognised. Before arriving in Australia, 30 per cent of women and 19 per cent of men worked in managerial or professional roles. But after a decade of residency in Australia, those figures dropped to 17 per cent and 10 per cent respectively. Lead author Dr John van Kooy said the study aimed to uncover how long it took for refugees to make the transition into employment and what kinds of jobs they eventually found. "What we observed in the study is 'occupational downgrading'," he said. "This means people had managerial or professional roles, white-collar jobs in business, human resources, marketing or IT — in their home countries, but they have been unable to reach that same occupational status or even a similar occupational status even after 10 years of permanent residency in Australia." For refugee women, the downgrade was even more pronounced. Among those who had been managers or professionals in their home countries, more than two-thirds (67 per cent) were not in paid work after 10 years of living in Australia. The remainder were mostly working as carers, cleaners, education aides or sales assistants. About 2,400 humanitarian migrants were surveyed over a 10-year period — starting when their first visas were granted in 2013 — as part of the study. A 2024 report by national not-for-profit service provider Settlement Services International found there was potential for a "billion-dollar benefit" in the employment of refugees and other migrants whose skills were thought to be chronically under-utilised. "There are around 37,000 refugees in Australia right now … working below their level of skill and qualification," said Dane Moores, SSI's head of strategic relations. The daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Nhi Tran moved to Australia in 2017 after studying business and customer service. She worked for eight years in operations and sales roles in both France and Vietnam. Despite her experience, finding work here became challenging and her university qualifications were not recognised. Ms Tran, now 36, worked for two years in hospitality for less than the minimum wage, shattering her confidence. "Especially when in your home country you already have manager work experience and you move to a new country trying to give you a different perspective and more opportunities," she said. "I don't complain about it because I understand if you face [a] language barrier, it's very hard for employers, but it deeply affects your confidence." According to Mr van Kooy, a surprising outcome from the AIFS report was the impact of social connection. "We found that participants who had friends from a mix of ethnic backgrounds — diverse friendship groups — were more likely to be employed than those who only had friends from their own ethnic background, or no friends," he said. The report recommended more coordinated recognition of skills and qualifications gained overseas, as well as inclusive recruitment practices and language support. Mr Matti, whose skills have become better utilised in his current job as an infrastructure project manager with Australia Post, said simplifying the path for refugees could make things easier. "Some of the skills and the experience locally is so meaningful and so important, but people with overseas qualifications also have experience," he said. "A bridge is a bridge … there are basic principles everywhere you go.
The Guardian
10-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Sam was an engineer in Baghdad but couldn't land a callback for similar roles in Australia. Many face the same issue
When Sam Matti came to Australia, he had a bachelor degree in automation engineering and five years of experience working as an engineer at an electric power plant in Baghdad. After fleeing religious persecution in Iraq, where Islamic State was targeting minority Christians, Matti arrived in Australia in 2015. Here, Matti, who speaks five languages, applied for every suitable engineering job – but couldn't even land a callback. 'I applied for every possible and available position on Seek,' says Matti, now 37. 'The usual response was, 'Sorry, we found a more experienced person with the right skills' or no response at all.' So Matti worked a variety of jobs – cleaning, catering and working in aged care – whatever he could get to help pay the bills. His experience is not unique. Many refugees who have worked as managers and professionals before arriving in Australia struggle to have their skills and qualifications recognised, and are still experiencing an 'occupational downgrade' 10 years after arrival, according to a new report by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS). About 2,400 humanitarian migrants were surveyed over a 10-year period. The report found 30% of employed women and 19% of employed men had been working in managerial or professional roles before arriving in Australia. That dropped to 17% and 10% respectively after 10 years of residency. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Half of men who had worked in fields such as business, human resources, marketing and ICT in their home country were working as technicians, tradespersons or machinery operators after a decade living in Australia. For female refugees, the occupational downgrade was even more pronounced. Among those who had been managers or professionals in their home countries, more than two-thirds (67%) were not in paid work after 10 years in Australia. The remainder were mostly working as carers, cleaners, education aides or sales assistants. The likelihood of women who were in families with children under five being employed was 84% lower than men in the same situation. Dr John van Kooy, the report's lead author, said 60% of women and about 37% of men in the study were not employed in the 10th year of the research and were not actively looking for work. 'So not in the labor force at all, which is large,' he says. 'But what's interesting about that group is that many of them indicated that they do, in fact, want a job. 'We know from our analysis that they're likely facing these sort of multiple challenges related to having their skills and qualifications recognised, building up their English language capability, or dealing with some of the effects of forced migration.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion A 2024 report by national not-for-profit service provider Settlement Services International (SSI) found there was a potential for a 'billion-dollar benefit' in the employment of refugees and other migrants thought to have 'chronically under utilised skills'. SSI's head of strategic relations, Dane Moores, says almost half of permanent migrants in Australia work below their skill level, with humanitarian entrants even more likely to have their skills under utilised. 'Many refugees arrive in Australia with years of professional experience and valuable skills, but they face a system that devalues their expertise and puts up unnecessary roadblocks to formally recognising their qualifications,' Moores says. 'The process to have overseas qualifications recognised is complex, costly and inconsistent, and many refugees find it difficult to meet the rigid documentation requirements.' After two years Matti landed an internship at a leading construction company – and now works as an operations manager at Australia Post. 'Giving an opportunity to a person can be a life-changing event,' he says. 'I was given an opportunity, and I was able to squeeze every single thing out of it to be able to achieve, you know, better results for myself and my family and society in general.'
News.com.au
06-06-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
1 in 3 men admit to committing intimate partner violence, new national study finds
A groundbreaking Australian study has revealed that one in three men have admitted to committing intimate partner violence (IPV), but the research also points to promising ways to help stop it. The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has found that building strong, affectionate bonds between fathers or father figures and their sons could cut the risk of IPV by nearly half (48 per cent). The findings come from the Ten To Men Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health, the largest research project of its kind. Since 2013-14, the study tracked around 16,000 boys and men, with another 10,000 added in 2023-24. Factors that contribute to IPV According to the report, men who had solid social support networks at all times in 2013-14 were 26 per cent less likely to report committing IPV by 2022. The data also shows a strong link between mental health and domestic violence. Men who experienced moderate or severe depressive symptoms in 2013-14 were 62 per cent more likely to report violent behaviour by 2022. Even those with mild symptoms were 32 per cent more likely, and men who had suicidal thoughts or attempts were 47 per cent more likely. However, the report stresses that most men dealing with depressive symptoms do not go on to commit domestic violence. What the men said The researchers defined intimate partner violence as including both emotional and physical abuse. Participants in the study were asked whether they had ever made a partner feel frightened or anxious (emotional abuse), or if they had ever hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt a partner when angry (physical abuse). By 2022, 35 per cent of men said 'yes' to one or both of those questions. About nine per cent admitted to physically abusing their partner. Father-son relationships impact violence Perhaps one of the most important findings from the study is the influence that positive relationships with fathers and father figures have on boys' use of partner violence when they grow up. Men who strongly agreed that they received affection from a father or father figure during childhood were 48 per cent less likely to ever use intimate partner violence compared to men who strongly disagreed. This finding is especially relevant to Australia's national policies and programs focused on breaking the generational cycle of partner violence. The research strongly suggests a need for violence prevention and early intervention with men at various stages of their lives. Organisations such as The Fathering Project aim to help – empowering fathers and father figures to build stronger relationships with their children through evidence-based programs, groups and events. Kati Gapaillard, CEO of The Fathering Project, told 'Father-son relationship plays a critical role in shaping how boys understand love, respect, and how to navigate conflict. 'When boys are raised by a father who is present, engaged, and treats those around them with respect, it influences children.' 'How a father manages conflict resolution sends a message to boys on how to respond in similar situations,' Ms Gapaillard continued. 'When boys grow up witnessing violence or control-based relationships – those patterns can become internalised as 'normal'.' She said that the absence of a caring, present father can also leave a void where boys turn to harmful stereotypes of masculinity — ones that 'connect strength with control'. The importance of emotional availability Daniela McCann, Director of the Australian Association of Psychologists, agrees that these early family dynamics are crucial – and believes fathers can help break the cycle by being more emotionally available. 'When fathers are emotionally available, sons are more likely to develop a range of emotional self-regulation skills, empathy and coping skills because they have the language and tools modelled to them from a young age,' Ms McCann said. 'These are core skills for healthy relationships. In contrast, emotionally distant fathers may teach their sons to avoid vulnerability, which can undermine emotional connection and lead to reactive behaviours.' Where to now? Ms McCann believes in the value of practical interventions that can support fathers in building stronger bonds with their sons. 'There are some wonderful (culturally safe) mentoring programs which encourage positive father-son relationships,' she said, 'including the Pathways Foundation Pathways to Manhood program, Fathering Adventures, The Fathering Project, Caring Dads Program, Stronger Families and Dads Tuning in to Kids. 'These programs provide guidance for dads to break the cycle of authoritarian, emotionally distant parenting and help them build strong relationships with their children and partners,' she said. Supporting men's mental health is also vital. Research has shown that men often struggle to seek help and support for their mental health, in part because of the stigma around needing to be 'resilient' and 'tough'. Organisations like The Men's Table and The Man Box aim to help break down these rigid gender expectations and help men get the support they need. The Ten to Men findings also highlight the importance of health and mental health practitioners being able to identify and work with people using violence, or at risk of using violence.
ABC News
03-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
One in three Australian men report using intimate partner violence, study reveals
More than one in three Australian men reported using intimate partner violence, with social support and strong father-son relationships key to lowering risks, world-first research has revealed. The longitudinal study from the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has been tracking more than 16,000 boys and men since 2013, asking them about a range of critical issues including family violence. When first surveyed, around one in four men aged 18 to 65 reported using intimate partner violence in their lifetime — including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. By 2022, this number had increased to more than one in three in the same cohort. Emotional abuse was the most common form of violence reported, with 32 per cent of men in 2022 reporting they had made an intimate partner feel "frightened or anxious" in their lifetime. Nine per cent reported "hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting" an intimate partner when they were angry on at least one occasion. The research indicated an estimated 120,000 men nationally were starting to use violence for the first time each year. The study provides the first national estimate of male intimate partner violence perpetration, and is the largest longitudinal study on male health in the world. It revealed men with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence by 2022, compared to men without these symptoms. However, the study also worked to identify "protective" factors. Men who reported high levels of social support "all of the time" were 26 per cent less likely to report using intimate partner violence. Meanwhile those who reported close relationships with a father figure had their risk reduced by half. "They had enough care and concern and a father figure they could confide in who taught them things," program lead Sean Martin said. An additional 10,000 men were added to the study cohort in 2024-25, with the latest wave of data collection expanding to include questions around economic coercion and pornography use. Dr Martin said the study has recently been funded by the Department of Health for a "sixth wave" of data collection. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows women are at least three times more likely than men to experience violence from an intimate partner. Almost 40 per cent of people experience violence by a male perpetrator, compared to 11 per cent by a female perpetrator. On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. In 2022, the Albanese federal government, along with the states and territories, pledged to end family and domestic violence in one generation. Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said this latest research would be key in informing next steps. "It gives us some really good insights into where we should be looking to support men and boys who are struggling," she said. Dr Martin said a similar longitudinal study was yet to be completed for women who use intimate partner violence. "That would be something we would like to include [in] future waves is getting an indication of the context in which this partner violence arises," he said. "Our own data suggests that's an important consideration, and that might include information on current partnerships and previous partnerships as well."
SBS Australia
03-06-2025
- Health
- SBS Australia
One in three Australian men admit to using intimate partner violence, new national study finds
This article contains references to domestic violence. Mental ill health and poor father-son relationships have been revealed as key factors that could contribute to men's violence against women. A longitudinal study conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) surveyed men and boys in 2013/14 and again in 2022 for critical insights into factors influencing the use of violence. The research has produced the first national estimate of male intimate partner violence perpetration, with the 2022 study finding more than one-in-three Australian men aged 18 to 65 have used intimate partner violence in their lifetime. This is up from one-in-four men who reported ever having used intimate partner violence among the same cohort surveyed in 2014. The latest study also found an estimated 120,000 men nationally were starting to use violence for the first time each year. Emotional-type abuse was the most common form of intimate partner violence, with 32 per cent of men in 2022 reporting they had ever made an intimate partner feel "frightened or anxious". Meanwhile, 9 per cent reported ever "hitting, slapping, kicking or otherwise physically hurting" an intimate partner when they were angry. Mental health and quality relationships with their fathers were found to have an impact on men's use of violence. Men with moderate or severe depressive symptoms were 62 per cent more likely to use intimate partner violence. The correlation between depression and violence did not mean one caused the other, but it was important to be aware of the impact of mental health, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said. "This sort of data gives us really good evidence on how to target interventions and investment," she told AAP. "It tells us that we need to be aware of the prevalence and the number of men using violence, and recognise that if someone is talking to a GP about their mental health, for example, it's worth asking those extra questions about their use of violence." Men who felt strongly that they had a quality relationship with a father or father figure during childhood, marked with affection, were 48 per cent less likely to report ever having used intimate partner violence. Cronin said paternal relationships where boys could talk about their feelings with their fathers appeared to be a protective factor against using violence later in life. The longitudinal data provided a set of risk factors to help develop effective policies and programs for young men, report co-author Sean Martin said. "Understanding the risk factors to these behaviours is critical," he said. Newly appointed Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the research was concerning but not surprising. "To end domestic and family violence we need to invest in the frontline services that help people and keep them safe, but we also need to stop the behaviours that lead to it," she said. "Obviously that trend is in completely the wrong direction and it's very important that we continue to focus on getting those numbers down," she said. "This report is useful because it also presents us with some of the key protective factors that make it much less likely that men will use violence. It shows that good mental health, good social connection and good relationship with a father or father figure early in life are very strong, very strong protective factors." Plibersek said the Labor government had committed an additional $1 billion to mental health services, including the rollout of Medicare walk-in mental health clinics. If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
