Immigration issues

Make sense of Australia’s migration policies, with news reports and interviews about visas, citizenship, passports and more from the SBS News team.

The Sydney school embracing Mongolian language and culture

There has been an uptick in migration from Mongolia to Australia, As a result, New South Wales Public Schools have experienced a 40 per cent growth in students from Mongolian backgrounds for two years running - encouraging one school to become a hub for the community. And this story has been produced in collaboration with SBS Mongolian.

12-15
03:24

SBS language broadcasts added to iconic Sounds of Australia collection

Ten extraordinary audio recordings illustrating Australia’s cultural and political landscape have been added to the National Film & Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia collection. The 2024 additions include the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian to use recorded sound to document Aboriginal culture, hip hop, speeches, a theme tune, the launch of what is now SBS Audio, an advertising jingle for an iconic Australian beer, and the last known recording of a now-extinct species.

12-10
07:58

Refugees are settling well in Australia but programs fail to consider women, report finds

Settling into a new country is a daunting prospect. But a study over 10-years has found there are a variety of positive outcomes that refugees can experience in their first decade of living in Australia. Still, many face challenges with renewed calls for better policies to assist those who are struggling.

11-28
04:21

Asylum seeker advocates say the government is abandoning multicultural communities

Labor's package of migration legislation will pass the Senate, with the Coalition agreeing to pass the three bills. The changes to the Migration Act would give the immigration minister powers to impose blanket visa bans on countries, pay third countries to deport non-citizens, and ban items like phones from detention centres.

11-27
07:04

'It broke us, the whole feeling of shame, anger, despair': Modern slavery survivor

Australia is increasingly eager to welcome temporary migrant workers from the Pacific into farm and food processing jobs. But a NSW parliamentary inquiry into modern slavery is set to examine the significant risks these workers can face.

10-16
08:25

Asylum seekers call on Labor to end visa uncertainty after Coalition-era rejections

Asylum seekers are still calling on Labor to fulfil its election pledge and end their visa uncertainty, after thousands of refugee claims were rejected under a Coalition-era assessment scheme. They're part of a silent protest at the Home Affairs Minister's office which has now gone on for more than 70 days.

10-15
04:37

Universities brace for Labor's planned cap on overseas students

International student commencements will be capped next year as the government tries to limit overseas migration. Education Minister Jason Clare says the caps will make the international education sector fairer, but many universities have opposed the plan.

08-28
06:17

The health issues faced by migrant men in Australia

New research has found men from migrant backgrounds experience poorer health outcomes, the longer they live in Australia. It's among a range of findings by the Movember Institute of Men's Health, showing barriers to accessing care are among the biggest challenges they face.

08-07
04:24

Refugees, asylum-seekers face escalating struggle for homes in their new home

Refugees and asylum seekers in high-income countries struggle to find stable, affordable housing, which can negatively affect their health. A Flinders University study has identified barriers like language, lack of rental references, and discrimination are affecting migrants seeking homes in their new home.

06-21
10:03

If migration is a key election issue, the debate had better be civil

Is Australia's great multicultural experiment over? That's what two experts on immigration and international relations have asked in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra. They're calling for a new understanding of net migration and the role of international students if the project is to be saved.

06-19
07:10

Coalition says a person's ties to Australia shouldn't be factored into visa cancellations

The government is under increasing pressure over immigration after the visa of a New Zealand national guilty of rape was reinstated by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The Coalition is calling on the federal government to scrap a ministerial direction that requires courts to consider an individual's ties to Australia when reviewing visa cancellations.

05-28
03:36

International PhD students say 'unfair' visa age limit could force them to leave Australia

A new age cap on a popular graduate visa is leaving many international PhD students in Australia facing uncertain futures. Many say they will be forced to leave the country due to changes set to be made to Temporary Graduate Visa Class 485.

05-23
04:48

Migrant, refugee children missing out on early-ed, jeopardising their future

A new study has found children from migrant and refugee backgrounds are more likely to be developmentally vulnerable when starting school, causing repercussions which could carry into adulthood. Researchers say a collaborative response is needed from government, early-education providers and providers of settlement services.

05-21
05:45

Was it fair to give instant residency to the 'Bondi Bollard' man?

A refugee advocacy service says granting permanent residency to the 'Bollard Man' who risked his life to protect others shows how 'broken' the immigration system is. While those working in the immigration sector support the man being given residency, organisations says its important the thousands of other visa holders who've contributed to the Australian community yet are still waiting for security are not forgotten.

05-01
07:04

UN refugee award recognises 'amazing' effort in empowering others

There are people who show incredible resilience under the most difficult circumstances and Hedayat Osyan is one of them. The 32 year-old fled Afghanistan 15 years ago and has since built a thriving business helping others. Now he's been honoured with the UNHCR Les Murray Award for Refugee Recognition.

04-23
03:46

Starting over: the community group helping newly arrived refugees

For many refugees, starting life in a new country can be overwhelming but a supportive community can help navigate the many challenges. That's the idea behind an innovative pilot program which recruits small groups of volunteers to help and mentor refugees for 12 months after arrival. Now there are calls to expand the program to make it easier for Australians to sponsor family members or refugees they already know.

04-06
05:52

Nadia was discouraged from working in her homeland. In Australia, her business is busy catering for Eid

As Muslims get ready to celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, cultural delicacies are being prepared by a diverse range of food businesses. Among them, several new ventures given a helping hand by a unique a social enterprise.

04-05
06:35

Free clinic supporting young basketball talent

In Melbourne's outer west, a free basketball clinic has been tapping into the potential of the young African community. The program is aimed at getting children active and engaged, coming from an area with a high migrant and refugee population.

04-05
05:06

Free swimming lessons aim to improve water safety in migrant communities

An initiative offering free swimming lessons in some of Australia's diverse communities is hoping to address a critical gap in water skills and safety. The move comes as migrants continue to be over-represented in Australia's drowning statistics.

04-04
04:41

Thousands trapped for years in a 'fast-track' visa system

There are about 9,000 asylum seekers who arrived in Australia over a decade ago and who remain caught in a Coalition-era system designed to 'fast-track' their claims. Thousands of them were children when they first came to Australia; they're now young adults with restrictive six-month bridging visas, living with the fear they could be deported from the country they now call home. A group of crossbenchers and refugee advocates is demanding the Immigration Minister end the decade-long delay and offer these migrants permanent status.

03-26
04:34

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