The slow road to a new home: The experiences of the first generation of South Sudanese Western Australians Settled in Perth

Abstract

Most refugee migrants entering Australia have limited financial resources. In Australia, low-income migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds-also referred to as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) migrants-feature as one of the groups suffering from the current Australian housing crisis, experiencing difficulty in navigating the housing market and achieving sustainable housing outcomes. This article analyses the case study of the South Sudanese migrants and profiles this group, analysing factors that contribute to improving their financial independence (education, employment and income) and housing outcomes, with the aim to evaluate their overall economic position in relation to accessing the housing market. Data shows that after an average of ten years beginning from their initial arrival in Australia, this migrant group is still struggling to improve their financial position. The article concludes by questioning the current approaches to the resettlement process concerning the attainment of suitable housing outcomes.