Health outcomes for refugees and people with humanitarian visas are far worse than the general Australian population. They are more likely to self-report long-term conditions, including diabetes (80% higher), kidney disease (80%), stroke (40%) and dementia (30%). Among hospitalisations for refugees and humanitarian migrants, one in 14 are for potentially preventable conditions.
New data shows that when it comes to COVID, they are five times more likely than permanent migrants to be hospitalised. And those who’ve been held for long periods in immigration detention shoulder significant health-care costs – an estimated 50% higher than other asylum seekers . Why is the health of refugees and humanitarian entrants so much worse than the rest of the country? And what can we do about it? Higher risk of physical and mental health issues Health is a fundamental human right .
But refugees and humanitarian entrants in Australia face multiple challenges that limit their ability to fully enjoy this right. Compared with the rest of the population, people in Australia who hold humanitarian visas are at a higher risk of physical and mental health issues . Factors contributing to this are complex, interrelated and interconnected.
People fleeing persecution are more likely to have experienced significant human rights violations, torture and trauma, which impacts their mental health and wellbeing. While in exile, they are also likely to have experienced precarious living conditions with lim.