This report presents the impact and case studies of the Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration (EPRI) program delivered by Space2b Social Design in St Kilda, Victoria. Its model addresses both social isolation and barriers to employment. The evaluation demonstrates the critical importance of the EPRI program to engage those most vulnerable.

The Settlement Engagement and Transition Support program is an early intervention program intended to contribute to humanitarian entrants and other eligible vulnerable migrants and communities. The audit reports on the effectiveness of the management of the grants in achieving the program objectives. It finds program performance has been mixed in a number of areas.

A small number of refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia have been living in precarious visa situations for lengthy periods. Prolonged visa insecurity creates a sub-class of people and has negative impacts on those affected. This paper proposes a policy to enable the regularisation of visa status in certain circumstances would significantly improve outcomes.

An evaluation of the Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration (EPRI) program, an Australian place-based initiative supporting refugees and humanitarian entrants with significant barriers to employment. The report outlines how the program is designed to assist individuals with low English proficiency, limited formal skills or complex settlement challenges through flexible, tailored pathways into economic participation.

This policy brief provides practical policy solutions to improve the settlement and integration of migrants and refugees in Australia. Successful integration is a goal shared by newcomers, the communities they settle in and government at all levels and is critical to maintaining public support for immigration. The brief provides seven recommendations.