Research Review: Effective Trauma Support for Refugee Communities in Australia
Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Support
It’s an all-too-familiar story for many refugees in Australia: the deep need for support after extraordinary stress, and yet, so many hurdles standing in the way. Before we can look at what works in healing trauma, it’s vital to truly understand the barriers that keep so many from receiving the help they deserve.
Let’s start with what the research shows. Refugee communities experience mental health challenges at far higher rates than the general population — with up to 50% reporting symptoms consistent with PTSD or anxiety in certain studies (Steel et al., 2017). Despite this, actual engagement with professional support services remains strikingly low. Why?
Stigma stands as one of the strongest barriers. Within many cultures and communities, mental health problems carry significant shame, or simply aren’t talked about at all. For some refugees, concerns about being judged — either by their own community or by broader society — can make seeking help feel risky, or even impossible (Mental Health Australia, 2019).
Language barriers make things even tougher. Imagine navigating a complex system, explaining feelings you may not fully understand yourself — and doing it all in your second or third language. Many people arrive with limited English, and even skilled interpreters can’t always bridge the gap in deeply personal or traumatic conversations (NSW Health, 2018).
There’s also a big disconnect around mental health concepts themselves. Much of Australia’s mental health care is grounded in Western ideals — talking therapy, clinical diagnoses, and openness about emotions. For those raised in different cultural contexts, these approaches can seem unfamiliar or even at odds with their community’s views on distress and healing (Colucci et al., 2017).
Stigma: Fear of community judgement, lack of open dialogue.
Language: Limited English skills, challenges in expressing emotional pain.
Cultural mismatch: Unfamiliarity with, or mistrust of, Western therapeutic models.
The result? Many refugees carry the weight of trauma alone, or lean on informal networks. It’s a powerful reminder: if we want to create pathways to healing, we must first recognise — and actively work to remove — the obstacles that stand in the way. The rest of this article explores what’s actually working to break down these barriers, grounded in Australian research and real-world community experience.
Effective Trauma Support for Refugee Communities in Australia
The Importance of Culturally Competent Care
It's no secret that for many newly arrived refugees, the journey to Australia is just the beginning. Trauma, loss, and upheaval don't disappear at the border. What makes a true difference is how support services interact with these experiences — respecting each person’s story, culture, and voice.
One of the most powerful predictors of positive mental health outcomes in refugee communities is culturally competent care. This means services aren’t simply "available"—they’re provided in a way that's meaningful and accessible to people from vastly different backgrounds. In practice, this can look like:
Interpreters: Removing language barriers, ensuring confidentiality, and allowing people to express themselves in their own words. It’s hard to build trust, or even describe trauma, if you can’t be understood.
Bicultural workers: Professionals who share cultural or lived experience with clients. They bridge the gap not only in language, but also in worldview, values, and expectations around mental health.
Trauma-informed counsellors: Practitioners who recognise the impact of forced displacement, war, or torture, tailoring support with genuine empathy and understanding of complex trauma.
Countless studies have highlighted that outcomes improve when mental health care is culturally tailored. For instance, a review by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that culturally sensitive approaches led to stronger engagement, greater client satisfaction, and, most importantly, more effective trauma recovery among refugee groups. In Australia, the use of interpreters and bicultural staff is not an "optional extra" — it’s a proven necessity for delivering care that genuinely helps.
Community Organizations as Pillars of Support
It's impossible to talk about refugee well-being in Australia without celebrating the tireless work of grassroots and specialist community organisations. These aren't just service providers; they're vital points of stability and safety when everything else has changed.
Foundation House (Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture) offers specialised trauma counselling, advocacy, and practical assistance tailored to the needs of refugee families. Their model goes beyond "treatment"—building long-term relationships and strengthening community ties.
STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors) supports newcomers with everything from individual counselling to group healing programs, as well as training for schools, health professionals, and local leaders. Their work is shaped by community feedback and involvement at each step.
What sets these organisations apart isn’t just their expertise in trauma. It’s the way they work with communities, not just for them. By respecting cultural strengths and family networks, they empower refugees to rebuild confidence and agency. Many clients say these organisations feel like a "second family"—an anchor in a new country.
Promoting Understanding and Reducing Stigma
While mental health is finally becoming part of the mainstream conversation in Australia, for many refugee communities, discussing trauma remains deeply stigmatised. Shame, fear, and misunderstandings can mean people delay or avoid seeking the help they need.
Reducing stigma isn’t quick, but it’s crucial — and everyone has a part to play. Some proven strategies include:
Community education: Hosting workshops, story-sharing sessions, or cultural events that explain mental health through relatable experiences. The more we normalise these conversations, the less frightening they become.
Peer support: Training community leaders, elders, or youth to provide non-judgmental support, and to gently encourage others to seek help if needed.
Partnerships with faith groups: Many refugees draw strength from spiritual communities. By working with religious leaders to sensitively address mental health and trauma, stigma can be reduced from the inside out.
At a broader level, it’s just as important to educate the wider Australian public. Campaigns that highlight refugee stories—not as stereotypes, but as individuals—help break down fears and foster compassion. Community engagement, from public art projects to local dialogues, builds a culture where asking for help is seen as strength, not weakness.
Evidence-Based Approaches to Trauma Recovery
The good news is that we don't have to guess what works—Australian and international research points to several best-practice approaches in trauma recovery for refugee communities.
Trauma-informed therapy: Approaches like narrative exposure therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and group support have all shown promise for refugees (source), especially when adapted for language, culture, and migration experience.
Strengths-based and community-led programmes: Interventions that tap into cultural practices, family traditions, and peer support networks lead to greater resilience and sustainable recovery (Foundation House: Research and Evaluation).
Integrated support: Tackling social, practical, and mental health needs together—think housing, employment, and well-being in one package—helps address the interconnected challenges refugees face.
A common thread is that "one-size-fits-all" solutions fall short. The most effective practices are those built collaboratively, adjusted for each group's reality, and delivered by staff who are skilled in both clinical care and cultural humility. When these pieces come together, refugees can not only recover but thrive, contributing richly to Australian society.
Approach Key Features Evidence of Effectiveness Trauma-informed Therapy Flexible, culturally adapted therapies (e.g., CBT, narrative therapy) Reduces PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms (source) Community-based Models Delivered by/with community members; incorporates cultural practices Promotes engagement, long-term resilience (source) Integrated Service Delivery Links practical support with mental health care Improves social integration and mental health outcomes (source)
What This Means: Interpreting the Findings
So, what do all these findings actually tell us — and where do we go from here?
Blend the research with lived experience, and one thing becomes clear: refugee mental health recovery in Australia hinges on respect for culture, community connection, and genuine, trauma-informed sensitivity.
Culturally tailored care isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ — it’s vital. Services that include interpreters, bicultural staff, and acknowledge each individual’s unique story deliver better engagement and outcomes (Multicultural Mental Health Australia, 2020; Nickerson et al., 2017).
Trusted community organisations are pillars of ongoing support. Their knowledge, acceptance, and cultural grounding, as seen at places like Foundation House and STARTTS, transform access and provide safe pathways to healing (Foundation House, 2018).
Stigma and misunderstanding remain stubborn barriers, but research-driven education campaigns and open community engagement do reduce shame and increase acceptance (Riekie et al., 2017).
For mental health practitioners, policymakers, and anyone passionate about supporting refugee communities, the message is consistent: We need to listen, learn, and shape care around the person, not just the diagnosis. Community collaboration is key, and real progress happens when we honour different ways of understanding recovery — whether that’s through group activities, spiritual practice, narrative, or simply providing continuity and trust.
As Australia continues to welcome people rebuilding their lives after displacement and trauma, our challenge and opportunity is to keep reimagining care that is accessible, responsive, and healing. That means funding, training, and supporting networks for culturally competent care. It means breaking down stigma not just in services, but in the community conversations around us. And it means championing the resilience that refugee communities already show, partnering with them as equals in the healing process.
If you’re looking to learn more or get involved, consider connecting with organisations like Foundation House or STARTTS, or seeking training in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive practice. Every step towards understanding and action helps create a more compassionate, more effective mental health system for everyone.
