2022 Next steps in refugee policy discussion paper

This submission is made in response to the discussion paper Next steps to improve Australia’s settlement and integration of refugees, prepared by the Department of Home Affairs.

Summary of recommendations:

1. Ensure that services funded to work with refugees and migrants are required to collect data on their SOGIESC. Such data collection needs to follow the 2020 ABS standard for Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables.
2. Ensure that the available data on refugees collected by the Department of Home Affairs is disaggregated by SOGIESC variables.
3. Fund the Forcibly Displaced People Network as an LGBTIQ+ refugee peak body.
4. Ensure that services funded to work with refugees and migrants are required to undergo a comprehensive training on working with LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced people.
5. Ensure that health services provided to refugees are LGBTIQ+ inclusive and gender affirming.
6. Consider establishing a pilot on connecting employment services, private sector and LGBTIQ+ refugee-led organisations to develop a model of access to employment for LGBTIQ+ refugees.
7. Ensure that English learning workbooks are inclusive of LGBTIQ+ experiences, diversity of families, equal rights to marry and reflect on the non-discrimination obligations.
8. Ensure client-centred approaches and collaboration in housing support and allocation to mitigate any safety risks for LGBTIQ+ persons.
9. Ensure that any materials on legal rights and responsibilities are inclusive of LGBTIQ+ experiences.
10. Ensure that CRISP is LGBTIQ+ inclusive and responsive.
11. Fund the Forcibly Displaced People Network to establish and run a pilot of peer-led mentoring support for newly arrived LGBTIQ+ refugees.