Settlement service provision and social capital among humanitarian migrants in Australia: a service provider perspective

Abstract

Purpose – In Australia, settlement service providers are the first point of contact for humanitarian migrants, and the support they offer plays a critical role in shaping migrants' long-term integration outcomes. Given the heightened risk of social exclusion among humanitarian migrants – stemming from experiences of forced displacement – developing social capital is essential to their successful settlement. This study explored the capacity of the settlement service provision model to promote social capital among humanitarian migrants. Design/methodology/approach – This study utilised a mixed-methods qualitative integrating thematic analysis informed by grounded theory. It included data from 26 semi structured in-depth interviews with settlement service providers across two Australian states: New South Wales and Victoria. Findings – Five key themes emerged: (1) shared ethnic backgrounds and informal networks; (2) cultural identity and cultural maintenance; (3) orientation to the new environment; (4) sense of belonging and social inclusion and (5) structural factors related to the service provision model. These themes were mapped onto the three core forms of social capital – social bonds, bridges and links. Findings demonstrate that settlement service providers play a pivotal role in fostering social capital and highlight its importance as a foundation for achieving broader settlement outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses solely on organisations funded to deliver the Humanitarian Settlement Program and/or the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support program. It does not capture the perspectives of humanitarian migrants themselves. Future research should examine the lived experiences of migrants to provide a more comprehensive understanding. Practical implications – The findings offer new insights into the facilitators and barriers to building social capital and how these influence the integration trajectories of humanitarian migrants. The study calls for a broader policy and research discourse on the centrality of social capital in migrant settlement frameworks. Originality/value – This is the first study to examine the capacity of the settlement service provision model to promote social capital, highlighting the pivotal role that settlement service providers play in fostering social bonds, building bridges and creating links that facilitate the integration of humanitarian migrants.