We are conducting research project to understand how diaspora health professionals in Australia contribute to the development of crisis-resilient health systems in their homelands that are exposed and vulnerable to wars, conflicts, climate change, epidemics and other disasters.

The migration of health professionals from low- and medium-income countries to high-income countries has created an inequitable distribution of health workforce across the world. Low- and medium-income countries bear the economic and social cost of the loss of locally trained health workers, with the shortage of the health workforce posing a challenge to healthcare systems. Humanitarian crises add complexity to these under-resourced healthcare systems by creating more health needs.

On the other hand, the migration of health professionals from low- and medium-income countries has led to the rise of a transnational community of diaspora health professionals in high-income countries such as Australia. This transnational community is an understudied and underutilised resource in health policy formation and program implementation in the humanitarian ecosystem. This research project aims to explore health diaspora engagement in humanitarian health.

Who is it for?

We are seeking diaspora health professionals in Australia. The term ‘diaspora’ stands for people who live outside of their self-identified homeland (or country of origin) on a temporary or permanent basis and remain connected to it through family and community networks. The term ‘health professionals’ includes but not limited to doctors, nurses, health scientists, public health officers and other allied health workers. Humanitarian health seeks to save lives, relieve suffering and improve the wellbeing of communities affected by war, conflict, disasters and health emergencies through medical and public health interventions.

How can you become involved?

Participate in a survey

We have designed an online survey to understand why and how diaspora health professionals in Australia contribute to humanitarian assistance and development concerning their countries of origin. We have specific questions aimed at understanding your health-oriented responses to humanitarian crises.

Please use the survey to indicate whether you want to be further involved in this research. We will contact you in the future for arranging an interview or discussion at your convenience.

This survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Take Survey

Be a part of the ongoing conversation

If you don’t want to take the survey, but health diaspora in humanitarian health is something that interests you or your organisation, please contact our lead researcher Jeevika Vivekananthan at research@cfhl.org.au.

Ethics are important to us

Participation in this research is entirely voluntary.  You can download our full statement on ethics here. This project has Deakin University Ethics Approval [HAE-20-030].