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Fact Sheet 16 - Immigration Research

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The Department of Immigration and Citizenship commissions independent research about immigration, population, multicultural and settlement issues. Research commissioned by the department is targeted at current and emerging issues.

The department provides its Ministers, the department and other agencies with data, research and information services to help make policy and operational decisions.

Immigration research reports are also intended to inform public discussion and are available online. Information about current and recent research is also available.
See:
Research Publications
Australian Immigration Research

Copies of research reports can be obtained by using the Research Enquiry Form.
See: Research enquiry form

Migrant survey

The Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia (LSIA) is the most comprehensive survey of immigrants undertaken in Australia. It provides the basis for some of the department's commissioned immigration research.

The LSIA also provides valuable data to enable the department to monitor and improve immigration and settlement policies, programs and services.

The LSIA questionnaires have covered many aspects of life in Australia, such as employment experience, English language skills, qualifications and their assessment, income and finances, support services (government and non-government), housing arrangements, health and satisfaction with life in Australia.

There were three LSIA surveys:

  • LSIA - 1
    More than 5000 migrants who arrived in Australia between September 1993 and August 1995, were asked about their experiences during their first three-and-a-half years in Australia.
  • LSIA - 2
    More than 3000 migrants who arrived between September 1999 and August 2000 were subsequently surveyed.
  • LSIA - 3
    More than 9000 offshore migrants (who arrived between December 2004-March 2005) and onshore migrants (who were granted visas between December 2004-March 2005) were surveyed in 2005 and 12 months later in 2006.

Further LSIA information including sample reports can be located on the department's website.
See: The Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia

Current research

  • Evaluation of Australia’s Working Holiday Program, to evaluate the operation, labour market effects and economic benefits of the program.

See also: Commonwealth-State Research Program

Research completed 2004-08

  • 2008 Update of the Migrants Fiscal Impact Model – This report by Access Economics shows the projected effects on the Commonwealth Budget of different categories of migrants.
  • Survey of Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) Visa Holders – This report by the department describes the employment outcomes, settlement experiences and pathways to permanent residence of SIR migrants, and is based on a survey of SIR visa holders who came to Australia between July 2004 and June 2006.
  • New migrant outcomes – third longitudinal survey of immigrants to Australia, by the department. A report describing the results of LSIA3, examining labour market outcomes, assessment of qualifications, earnings, housing arrangements and community involvement.
  • Evaluation of Skilled Migration to the Riverina, by the department. To determine how well skilled migration schemes are working from a community, an employer and employee perspective in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
  • Australia's Net Gains from International Skilled Movement, by Dr Bob Birrell, centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University. This report details the movements of skilled workers to and from Australia in 2004-05 along with trend data since the mid 1990s. It examines whether Australia has a brain drain or a brain gain.
  • Immigration and the Supply of Complex Problem Solvers in the Australian Economy, by Professor Peter McDonald, ANU, evaluates how Australia's skilled migration policies help increase the future supply of young 'complex problem solvers' to complement the ageing composition of the labour force.
  • The Economic Impact of Migration: A Comparison of Two Approaches, by Econtech, investigates the factors that underlie differences in the economic impact of migrants from two major economic models of the economy.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of the general skilled migration categories and the points test, by Dr Bob Birrell, Monash University; Prof Sue Richardson, Flinders University; and Dr Leseyanne Hawthorne, Melbourne University and migration experts in the UK, Canada and NZ. The report includes a comparison of the Australian points test with those countries' systems.
  • Commonwealth Budget Model Update 2003 and 2004 by Access Economics.
  • Economic Impact of the 2002-2003 Migration Program by Econtech.
  • Survey of long-term Temporary Entrants. Prof Peter McDonald, ANU. Jointly funded with the Australian Research Council. This project is in two parts: a study of the characteristics of long-term temporary entrants and a survey of temporary entrants and their employer sponsors.
  • Labour Force and Settlement Outcomes of New Migrants, by the National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University of SA. Two studies using the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia wave two data, to gauge the effects of a further year's residence in Australia on migrants' labour force and settlement experiences.
  • A Comparison of Australian and Canadian Immigration Policies and Labour Market Outcomes by Prof Sue Richardson, National Institute of Labour Studies, Flinders University, 2004.
  • Skilled Movement in the New Century by Dr Bob Birrell, Centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University, 2004. This study updates previous research in this area using statistical data sourced from passenger cards completed by people arriving, or leaving Australia for the period 2000-2001 through to 2002-2003.

See: Research Publications

Commonwealth-State research program

The Joint Commonwealth, State and Territory Research Program is developed by representatives of the department and state and territory immigration and multicultural affairs agencies. Some of the studies currently commissioned include:

  • The People of Australia by SPG Economics and Planning, 2008. This work draws on data from the 2006 and 2001 Census of population and housing. Its main component is tabular analysis (at the LGA level) of Religion, Ancestry, Birthplace, Language and English Competency. There are also summary tables for each state-territory based on these variables and a national overview.

Recently completed studies

  • Study of the Social Costs and Benefits of Migration into Australia identifies and examines the social costs and benefits of migration to Australia, with particular reference to individual states and territories. The results of this study are intended to assist in identifying strategies for promoting social cohesion and integration of migrants.
  • Effectiveness of Cross-Cultural Training in the Australian Context by Cultural Diversity Services Pty Ltd. Looks at various models of training, identifying good practice examples, and undertaking analysis of levels of awareness, knowledge and skills of selected test groups of participants.
  • Surveys of Migrants who arrived under the Skilled Designated Area Sponsored (SDAS) and the regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS), statistical analysis by the department. The SDAS survey comprises respondents who arrived in Australia between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2003. The RSMS comprises respondents who arrived in Australia between 1 July 1999 and 30 June 2003.
  • The Impact of the Migration and Humanitarian Programs on State and Territory Economies by Econtech, 2004.

International research

The department also monitors international migration research and liaises with other governments and international agencies on issues of mutual interest. For example, as a world leader in conducting longitudinal surveys of migrants, the department has conferred with Canada, New Zealand and the UK on similar projects overseas.

Information on the activities of international research organisations can be accessed via the department's research webpage.
See: International Migration Research Links

Statistics

The department's Research and Statistics Section provides statistical support for the department, and distributes immigration related statistics to other government agencies and the community in the form of tables, reports and a general enquiry service.

Further information can be obtained on the department's website.
See: Statistics

 

Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 16. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 17 November 2008.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2009.