A research project supporting mental health and wellbeing of migrant and refugee children with disability has received funding from the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation.

Led by Flinders University’s Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, the project also involves Caring Futures Institute Better Communities theme lead Professor Sally Robinson.

The project will examine mental health support needs and engagement with services and provide recommendations for promoting mental health and wellbeing for migrant and refugee children, their families and carers.

Refugee children are known to experience higher rates of disability, including mental health and developmental disorders, than non-refugee children. In addition, migrant and refugee children with disability can experience negative mental health impacts because of their disability.

They also face multiple potential service access barriers including issues with diagnosis, language and service navigation, a lack of culturally responsive services, and varying service eligibility.

There is limited research on the topic.