International migration research projects

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Current research projects

Family migration to Australia

Siew-Ean Khoo, Peter McDonald and Barbara Edgar
The migration of family members of primary migrants and Australian residents forms a significant component of permanent migration to Australia. This study aims to investigate the contributions made by these family migrants, who include migrants in the family migration visa categories and the partners and dependent children of migrants in the permanent skilled and humanitarian migration visa categories. The study examines data from the population census and sample surveys on the characteristics of these groups of family migrants, their economic, social and civic contributions as permanent migrants to Australia, and the factors influencing the scope and magnitude of their contributions, including their family and social networks. The project is funded by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and will be completed in late 2012.

Migration and housing in Australia

Siew-Ean Khoo, Peter McDonald, Jeromey Temple and Barbara Edgar
The research project aims to investigate the participation in the housing market of recently arrived permanent and temporary migrants according to their visa category to improve knowledge and understanding of how the different types of permanent and temporary migration to Australia affect the demand for housing. The study will examine differences in the housing situation of permanent and temporary migrants by their visa category, the changes in migrants’ housing and household characteristics with length of residence in Australia, and the role of housing in the process of adjustment of immigrants to life in Australia. Data from the 2006 population census and various surveys will be used. A special focus of the study will be on the housing arrangements of two groups of temporary migrants: overseas students and skilled temporary residents on the 457 subclass visa.  The project is funded by the Department of the Treasury’s National Housing Supply Unit and will be completed in mid-2012.

Skilled migration in the context of a global labour market

Siew-Ean Khoo, Peter McDonald, Graeme Hugo (University of Adelaide)
This project examines the factors motivating the temporary migration of skilled workers to Australia, with a focus on migrants in the temporary long-term business entry visa program and their sponsoring employers. The project was funded by an ARC Linkage Grant with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs as the industry research partner.

Publications

  • S.E. Khoo, G. Hugo and P. McDonald, 2010. 'Skilled migration from Europe to Australia,' Population, Space and Place. DOI: 10.1002/psp.651.

  • S. E. Khoo, P. McDonald and G Hugo, 2009. 'Skilled temporary migration from Asia-Pacific countries to Australia,' Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 18 (2): 255-281.

  • S.E. Khoo, G. Hugo and P. McDonald, 2008. 'Which skilled temporary migrants become permanent residents and why?' International Migration Review, 42 (1): 193-226.

  • S.E. Khoo, P. McDonald, C. Voigt-Graf and G. Hugo, 2007. 'A global labor market: factors motivating the sponsorship and temporary migration of skilled workers to Australia,' International Migration Review, 41 (2): 480-510. 

  • S.E. Khoo, C. Voigt-Graf, P. McDonald and G. Hugo, 2007. 'Temporary skilled migration to Australia: employers' perspectives,' International Migration, 45 (4): 175-201.
     

Government reports

  • S.E. Khoo, P. McDonald and G. Hugo, 2006. Temporary Skilled Migrants’ Employment and Residence Outcomes. Canberra: Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

  • S.E. Khoo, P. McDonald and G. Hugo, 2005. Temporary Skilled Migrants in Australia: Employment Circumstances and Migration Outcomes. Canberra: Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

  • S. E. Khoo, C. Voigt-Graf, P. McDonald and G Hugo, 2004. A Global Market: The Recruitment of Temporary Skilled Labour from Overseas. Canberra: Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
     

The role of immigration in Australia's population futures

Peter McDonald
This project involves demographic-economic modeling of Australia’s demographic and labour supply futures for Australia in the context of population ageing and the implications for immigration policy. The project has received funding from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Publications

Afghan refugees in Iran

Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi

Living arrangements and well-being of culturally and linguistically diverse older adults

Siew-Ean Khoo
The project aims to improve knowledge and understanding of the ageing experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) older adults in Australia by analysing data from the 2006 population census on their living arrangements and social and economic well-being. The research examines these issues by country of origin, ethnicity and language spoken at home to identify birthplace, ethnic and language groups that are experiencing productive ageing and others that are doing less well. The project is funded by a research grant from National Seniors Australia.

Publications

  • S. E. Khoo, 2012. 'Ethnic disparities in social and economic well-being of the immigrant aged in Australia.' Journal of Population Research, 29 (2): 119-140.

Immigrant minorities and politics in Australia and the United Kingdom

James Jupp
This project examines the electoral and political aspects of immigrant minorities in Australia and the United Kingdom, including voting behaviour in areas of minority concentration, support for racist and/or anti immigration parties, shifts in the policies and propaganda of major parties, and policy changes and electoral considerations.

A cross-country comparative analysis of multicultural policy

James Jupp
This project examines multicultural policy in a number of states, including Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden. A special emphasis is on the political environment and responses in the different countries.

Recently completed projects

Intermarriage in Australia: trends and implications

Siew-Ean Khoo and Bob Birrell (Monash University)
The study uses data from the 2006 Australian census to examine the intermarriage rate for first, second and third-plus generation Australians by birthplace, ancestry and religion and the rate of intermarriage between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. It also analyses the propensity of persons of particular ancestries, religions and birthplaces to intermarry by the socio-economic characteristics of the partners, such as level of education and income. The project is part of the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Australian Census Analytic Program.

Publications

  • S.E. Khoo, B. Birrell and G. Heard, 2009. 'Intermarriage by birthplace and ancestry in Australia,' People and Place, 17 (1): 15-27.

  • G. Heard, B. Birrell and S.E. Khoo, 2009. 'Intermarriage between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians,' People and Place, 17 (1): 1-14.

  • G Heard, S.E. Khoo and B. Birrell, 2009. 'Intermarriage by religion in Australia,' People and Place, 17 (2): 43-55.
     

Migration of teachers from Pacific Island Countries

Robyn Iredale, Siew-Ean Khoo and Carmen Voigt-Graf (University of the South Pacific).
The project examines the outmigration of teachers from three Pacific Island countries (Fiji, Cook Islands and Vanuatu) and its human resource implications for these countries. Small surveys of teachers, school principals and students at teachers colleges were conducted to examine the patterns and prospects of teachers' migration and its implications for each country’s education system. Exploratory surveys were also undertaken with Pacific Islander teachers in Australia and New Zealand. The project was funded by a Discovery grant from the Australian Research Council.

Publications

  • R. Iredale, C. Voigt-Graf and S.E. Khoo, 2009. 'Teacher migration to and from Australia and New Zealand, and the Place of Cook Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu Teachers.' Research in Comparative and International Education, 4 (2): 125-140.

  • C. Voigt-Graf, R. Iredale and S.E. Khoo, 2007. 'Teaching at home and overseas: teacher migration from Fiji and the Cook Islands,' Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 16 (2): 199-223.