The results of the final stage of a research project into settlement outcomes of refugees from Syria and Iraq were launched at an event in Broadmeadows recently.
The 'Refuge and family Futures in Australia' project was carried out by the University of Technology Sydney in partnership with AMES Australia and other agencies around the country, encompassing three separate surveys.
The final results were launched at a dinner at the Broadmeadows Town Hall by AMES CEO Cath Scarth and local federal MP Maria Vamvakinou.
The study showed that overwhelmingly, settlement outcomes for the refugee families were positive.
AMES Projects and Policy Officer Carissa Jebwab presented the results to an audience of about 80, including refugee families who were subjects of the research.
The study found that after three years 55 per cent of refugees looking for work had secured employment. Over the same period, two in three adults from Syria and half of the Iraqis reported that they spoke English either well or very well.
From the first year, 90 per cent of refugees found their neighbourhood “a good place to bring up children", rising to 98 per cent by the third year. By the third year, 98 per cent of refugees also thought that their neighbour had good schools.
The study found that for young refugees, from year one, three in four rated their educational experiences as “very good" to “excellent". Two in three felt that they belonged 'most of the time' or “always".
It found that most of the refugees wanted to become citizens and that their biggest worries were employment and family members trapped overseas.