Dropped from the moon – the settlement experiences of refugee communities in Tasmania

This study explores the settlement experiences of people from refugee communities who arrived in Tasmania in the period 1996-2006. Many aspects of life in Tasmania suit refugee communities and promote good settlement outcomes. However, there are still service gaps and refugees experience difficulties in housing, employment, poverty, English language, family reunion, social isolation and racism. Although all low-income populations in Tasmania are currently suffering from a crisis in affordable housing stocks and high regional unemployment, problems for refugees are exacerbated by cultural unfamiliarity and racial discrimination.