This research project included observing the Hazara Afghan community in location and interviews with Hazara and non-Hazara residents. This report understands that living and engaging in a community is not just about how migrants bring economic benefit to local communities but needs to look at their social, cultural and economic contributions.

Key points:

• There are a number of key themes that resonate throughout the report.
• An individual engages or contributes to the local community in which they live in ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’ ways.
• There are individuals and organisations who have the capacity to be social connectors, to bridge between communities.
• Refugee-background migrants arrive with assets, abilities, knowledge and experiences to contribute to the communities they live in, and many proactively find ways to do so.
• There is a tension for refugee communities who wish to simultaneously strengthen, support and contribute to the development of their own communities or co-ethnic bonds, while strengthening, supporting and contributing to the local (and national) communities they are now a part of.