Background: Housing insecurity is a fundamental social determinant of migrant health. While the relationship between housing and health outcomes is well-documented, there is a paucity of longitudinal data examining this association among humanitarian migrants. Accordingly, we aimed to assess i) longitudinal trends in housing insecurity, health and ii) impact of housing insecurity on mental health and physical health outcomes among humanitarian migrants
Methods: Measures were drawn from the Building a New Life in Australia Longitudinal Study (n=7,526) with repeated measures over six data waves from 2013/14 to 2023. Generalised Estimating Equations with logistic regression were used to test the association between housing insecurity and psychological distress, PTSD and self-rated health, adjusting for potential confounders and time-varying covariates.
Results: We found that the prevalence of housing insecurity decreased significantly, from 74.6% in Wave 1 (2013/14) to 41.3% in Wave 6 (2023). In contrast, psychological distress showed an alternating trend, increasing slightly from 16.07% in Wave 1 to 19.99% in Wave 6. Similarly, PTSD followed a fluctuating trend, decreasing from 32.12% in Wave 1 to 27.84% in Wave 6; self-rated health remained fairly consistent over time. After adjustment, housing insecurity was strongly related to increased odds for psychological distress (AOR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.39-1.92), PTSD (AOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.20-1.56), and poor self-rated health (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI: 1.21-1.65).
Conclusion: Housing insecurity, psychological distress, and PTSD declined over time but showed a slight increase in later waves, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities among humanitarian migrants. However, self-rated health remained stable throughout the ten years. Our study presents strong evidence of the long-term negative effects of housing insecurity on health outcomes for migrants in Australia. Addressing housing insecurity through targeted public health action and housing policy holds the potential to improve long-term health outcomes for humanitarian migrants.

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lung disease and cancers are major health problems worldwide including in Australia. People with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background in Australia face issues including poor living condition, sedentary lifestyle, high intake of processed food and culturally mediated unhealthy behaviours, hence pre-disposing them to NCDs risk. This study explored NCD risk factors and perceived barriers and facilitators to health care among CALD communities of South Asian background residing in greater Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Methods: We used qualitative research and collected data using in-depth interviews among adult CALD community members (n=11) and health care providers (n=7). The interview guide included broad domains covering behavioural risk factors; access to health care services; social, cultural, and linguistic supports; barriers/ enablers to access care; approaches to preventing NCD risk; current support mechanisms. Data were analysed using Nvivo-10 and thematic analysis was done using both inductive and deductive approaches.
Results: This study identified 4 broader thematic areas 1. Individual-level risk factors (Food preferences and attitudes; Physical activity; Health risk behaviours; Family practices); 2. Community/Institutional factors (Influence of cultural practices; Work-life balance; Challenges to accessing and using healthcare services); 3. Public policy factors (Information and communication gaps; Quality and timely healthcare services) and 4. Protective factors (individuals and families’ responsibility; work-life balance; and appropriate working conditions). While strong cultural beliefs, nutritional health literacy, cost of healthy food choice, maintaining healthy lifestyle, motivation from family/friends were most expressed factors, the peer influence, lack of time, financial constraints, and work-related stress and anxiety were the commonly identified challenges.
Conclusion: We conclude that CALD community members of south Asian background face multiple challenges associated with the development of NCDs risks. These findings warrant need for developing culturally appropriate intervention approaches targeted to improve healthy lifestyle and prevent development of NCDs.

Introduction: This study investigated the enablers and barriers to patient engagement in interpreter-mediated conversations (IMC) in a Metropolitan Hospital’s (MH) Emergency Department (ED) in southwestern Sydney (SWS). This region has a culturally diverse population, with over 38% from a non-English-speaking background. Interpreters in SWS support over 60% of daily patient presentations, highlighting the reliance on interpreter services and the persistent language barriers that may contribute to adverse events. Identifying factors that affect IMC effectiveness is crucial for improving patient-centred care, reducing misinterpretation, and enhancing equitable access to healthcare.

Method: A parallel mixed-methods study was conducted in the ED using purposive sampling. A semi-structured focus group with interpreters (n=4) and interviews with ED clinicians (n=2) and consumer representatives (n=3) explored patient engagement during IMCs. Interpreter activity data from the 2022/23 financial year (n=2 records) was also collected. Thematic analysis identified key qualitative themes, while descriptive statistics analysed quantitative data.

Results: Among the 21 languages requested, Vietnamese, Arabic, and Mandarin were most frequently required. Most consultations (94%) were conducted via remote interpretation rather than in-person. Key enablers of successful IMCs included rapport-building, a compassionate tone, active listening, and accurate information-sharing, fostering trust and patient understanding. Barriers included dialect differences, medical jargon, time constraints, and remote interpretation, leading to confusion and poor engagement. Addressing these barriers requires strategies such as interpreter rounding, where interpreters visit patients at regular intervals, and clinician-interpreter handovers for structured information exchange.

Conclusion: Patient engagement in IMCs is influenced by technology, which enables care delivery but also introduces communication challenges. Time is critical for effective interpretation, and face-to-face interaction requires adequate resourcing. Improving communication involves balancing resourcing, clinician time management, service demand, and interpreter availability. These solutions, though simple in concept, require careful integration to optimise patient outcomes.

Background: Despite the global emphasis on comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH), concerns related to sexual function (SF) remain underexplored, particularly among migrant and refugee women. These gaps are further exacerbated by systemic, cultural, and clinical barriers within healthcare systems. This study investigates how healthcare and community service providers conceptualise and address SF in SRH service provision to migrant and refugee women in South Australia.

Methods: A qualitative study employing an exploratory, descriptive design was conducted using semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled healthcare providers (n=10) involved in SRH service delivery. Participants represented a broad range of professional roles and cultural backgrounds. Data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s framework, with Andersen’s Behavioural Model of Health Services Use (ABMHSU) guiding the theoretical organisation of emergent themes across predisposing characteristics, enabling resources, and need-related factors.

Findings: Providers acknowledged significant barriers to addressing SF, including cultural stigma, communication challenges, lack of clinical training, and institutional constraints. While participants recognised the legitimacy of SF concerns, these were frequently deprioritised in routine care. Enabling factors such as culturally responsive practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, and improved provider education were identified as critical to enhancing SRH outcomes for this population.

Conclusion: The study highlights a persistent gap in the integration of SF into SRH care for migrant and refugee women. Findings underscore the need for policy and practice reforms that centre sexual wellbeing as a legitimate health priority. ABMHSU proved valuable in capturing the multidimensional barriers and opportunities shaping healthcare engagement in this context.

Background
Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern Australians face unique health challenges shaped by migration, culture, and social structures. Family plays a central role in health decisions, reinforcing the need for culturally tailored, family-based interventions. Current research supports co-designing such interventions, with insights from existing studies guiding culturally appropriate, effective program development. Understanding community-specific needs and how family is conceptualised is key.

Methods
Using the 6SQuID framework, two focus groups were conducted in Arabic with 17 diverse community members in Brisbane. The sessions explored key health concerns, identified modifiable factors, prioritised target groups, and determined effective mechanisms of change to inform a culturally relevant, family-based health intervention.

Key Health Concerns
Common concerns include anxiety, depression, and trauma, made worse by isolation, stigma, and limited access to Arabic-speaking professionals. Acculturation and fast-food consumption are rising, especially among children, due to financial stress and mixed messages at home, though there is growing interest in healthier Arabic foods. Physical activity is low, particularly for women, due to time pressures and lack of safe spaces, but walking groups offer promise. In maternal health, women experiencing miscarriage and loss report inadequate care and support, with gendered caregiving roles showing the need for stronger family and community systems.

Program Principles from Participants
Participants emphasised the importance of culturally tailored, family-based activities that support learning, reflection, and social connection. Health in Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern communities is deeply rooted in cultural traditions, religious values, and pre-migration experiences. Participants suggested a program be delivered in Arabic by facilitators who understand their lived experiences and community dynamics. Family is central to well-being, with every member—regardless of age or role—an active agent of change. The program will involve entire families, create safe spaces, and include shared activities that build connection and trust. Addressing stigma, gender-sensitive spaces, and affirming cultural and spiritual strengths help families adapt while preserving identity.

Development of the Health Program
Building on these principles, a culturally inclusive, family-focused health program will be co-developed with the community and refined through ongoing feedback. It will aim to strengthen wellbeing, improve health literacy, enhance social connection, and support sustainable behaviours, while reflecting the cultural and collective values of diverse Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern families.

This three-phase study, conducted in South-East Queensland, explores mental health stigma and its underlying causes within refugee and migrant communities. The primary objective is to co-design a Mental Health Promotion Framework that will inform initiatives aimed at enhancing mental health literacy and reducing stigma.

Phase 1 involved semi-structured interviews with twelve expert stakeholders, including community members, leaders, professionals, academics, and service providers. Phase 2 consisted of five co-design workshops with thirteen participants from refugee or migrant backgrounds, over half of whom had lived experience with mental health challenges and/or stigma. Phase 3, scheduled for June 2025, will bring together all participants in a half-day workshop to review and refine the draft framework. Throughout the study, reflexivity was employed to strengthen rigour and credibility. A strong emphasis was placed on creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment, prioritising trust, comfort, equitable power dynamics, and open communication to ensure authentic co-design practices.

Data analysis and framework development are currently underway, with detailed findings to be presented at the conference. A socioecological model of mental health has been co-designed, identifying key areas for culturally and socially responsive mental health promotion strategies. By drawing on the knowledge and lived experiences within the community, the project offers valuable insights into how mental health and illness are perceived across cultures, how stigma manifests, and what barriers and enablers exist for community engagement. It also outlines practical strategies for promoting mental health in these diverse settings.

Co-designing a mental health promotion framework is an effective way to reflect the community's needs, centre their voice, and create a guide that organisations, services, and communities can use to plan, design, and implement mental health promotion and stigma reduction initiatives. By providing a head start for these initiatives, this framework can save resources and time for the resource-limited sector.

Studies show noteworthy disparities in life expectancy and health quality between migrant and Australian-born Australians, with rates of healthcare uptake lower amongst migrant populations. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review and evidence gap map to identify research gaps in the literature on the health of South Asian migrants and refugees in Australia to identify key areas for research and investment.
Two investigators searched four electronic databases. We included Australian quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods papers published from 2000, on migrants and refugees from South Asian countries. Reviewers screened titles and abstracts using Covidence, coded studies in EPPI-Reviewer.
We summarized findings from 129 studies reporting on the health and wellbeing of migrants from South Asian countries in Australia. The majority of existing evidence focused on qualitative exploration of health-related knowledge and facilitators and barriers to healthcare seeking. Mental health, non-communicable diseases and maternal health were well-evidenced. There is a lack of evidence around interventions to improve the existing health-related knowledge, behaviours and disease prevention.
Overall, there is scarce evidence on healthcare access and utilisation, mortality and economic outcomes. Priority areas for future research include establishing long-term cohort studies for designing acceptable interventions to reduce risk factors and improve health outcomes for these migrants.