Service Innovation with Young Refugees: Co-Designing Early Settlement Services

Over a quarter of Australia’s population were born overseas. Newly arrived young people have significant potential to become active co-creators of future Australia, but often face additional social, cultural, educational, and economic challenges emanating from various factors such as linguistic and cultural differences, as well as varying degrees of digital literacies.

In partnership with MDA (Multicultural Development Association), a leading settlement organisation providing services to refugees and migrants in Queensland, Australia, this research and development project explores how care and support are perceived and experienced by newly settled refugee and migrant young people aged 16 to 25 during their first 3-6 months of settling into Australia. Through uses of creative and co-design methods, it seeks new ways to improve settlement services based on the needs and desires of the young people themselves.