‘Inhabiting Two Worlds At Once’ Report

Report on the experiences of LGBTIQA+ settlement in Australia

In 2021 FDPN ran the first Australia-wide survey to comprehensively capture the experiences of displacement and settlement of LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced people.

The aim of this survey was to collect information about the experiences and barriers of LGBTIQA+ forcibly displaced people in Australia so we can advocate for more welcoming and inclusive support.

This is a very important survey. Such comprehensive information has not yet been collected in Australia.

We collected the comprehensive data about LGBTIQA+ forcibly displaced people in Australia, their experiences in Australia and where they seek help. Collected data will be used to advocate for better support for LGBTIQA+ asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. This matters because we, as LGBTIQA+displaced people, remain unseen and unheard in Australia where we deserve equal opportunities to call Australia home.

The development of the survey was funded by the ACT Government Office of LGBTIQ+ Affairs. Parts of the analysis after the data was collected was supported by the Department of Home Affairs.

The ethical aspects of this research have been approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol 2022/326).

Stage one report: “Inhabiting Two Worlds At Once”: report on the experiences of LGBTIQA+ settlement in Australia is now available.

Download the report here: https://fdpn964079271.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/final-report-inhabiting-two-worlds-at-once.pdf

Key findings:

  1. We found that many reflected on negative and exclusionary experiences when accessing current support services and that participants found it difficult to find quality, holistic and inclusive assistance.
  2. We found that participants reported very high levels of discrimination in all aspects of life including services, education, employment, housing and health care. Over 50% of the participants reported that the ongoing issue of discrimination affected their physical and mental health.
  3. The report reveals the staggering fact that 60% of people who undertook the survey experienced at least one form of violence in Australia. This is fifteen times higher than the average Australian rate of 4.4% in 2020 to 2021 (ABS, 2022). Even considering the relatively small sample size, the high rate of violence is notable.
  4. Over 50% of participants shared they didn’t feel comfortable in their ethnic community and the those who did feel included only did so when they did not disclose their LGBTIQA+ status to other community members.
  5. The impacts of the COVID pandemic revealed that 10% skipped meals. Many were ineligible for any income support.

About the stage one report

The stage first describes the demographics of the participants to contextualise who has decided to participate in the survey. Then it focuses on main themes that emerged during the analysis:

  • Access to support services
  • Discrimination in Australia
  • Violence experienced within Australia
  • Community support and connection
  • Experiences during the COVID pandemic

In the stage two report we will also provide more intersectional analysis. The stage two report will cover the following: Access to education in Australia (including recognition of previous qualifications), Access to employment, Access to and experiences within the health system and Experiences of housing and homelessness. Sign up to our mailing list to receive the final report.