Volunteering and connection to the Australian community: survey findings

Executive Summary Australia has a long history of migration and a highly diverse population. ABS data shows that at 30 June 2014, 28.1% of the population was born overseas (ABS, 2015). Australia’s current immigration policy includes a strong focus on bringing skilled migrants to Australia to fill gaps in the labour market and to counteract the effects of an ageing population. Migrant and refugee settlement is critical to Australia’s future prosperity and an investment in the future of our nation’s economy and its social capital. Both the host society and new migrants need to work together to bring about social cohesion. Participation is a reciprocal endeavour where members of the more established Australian community are an integral part of the process to ensure that new arrivals are not socially isolated and marginalised. Without help and support new migrants may find it difficult to meet other people, build their social capital and become fully functioning integrated members of the community (Jackson et al, 2012). Given the importance of social connection to successful settlement, the aim of this report is to gain an understanding of the extent of social connectedness and volunteering among new arrivals in Australia. This report is based on a survey that was administered to 386 students undertaking the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) at AMES Australia. This was a group of very new arrivals with over half having been here for less than a year. The survey results are supported by an extensive literature review that describes the importance of social connection as a form of social capital that not only helps new migrants settle but also benefits the broader community. Volunteering is an important way for new migrants to participate in the community, meet new people and develop new skills. Volunteering is also a way for members of the broader community to meet and interact with new arrivals. This survey explores the prevalence of volunteering in terms of both giving and receiving. The survey was given to AMEP students located at three AMES sites, St Albans, Noble Park and Flagstaff in April 2015. The survey was administered in English and the five most common languages of students at these sites - Chinese, Arabic, Vietnamese, Hakka Chin and Dari. Findings are outlined in three sections. 1. Demographics Meeting new people Participation and volunteering The findings indicate that social connection through community activities and volunteering are important to newly arrived migrants during the first few months and early years of settlement. Almost three quarters of respondents (72%) had been living in Australia for less than two years. During that time they had made significant inroads into forging social connection within their own and the broader community. The results show that new migrants had met people outside their own immediate family and networks; just under two thirds knew their neighbours and nine out of ten felt that volunteering was an important way to meet people and feel part of the community