Migration and the healthy migrant effect in Australia : current knowledge, gaps and opportunity for future research

Over the past 200 years, migration has transformed Australia as a nation, its history and socioeconomic and cultural fabrics. Entry to Australia is regulated by immigration policies and entry visa and can be broadly categorised into four groups: skill stream categories (e.g. point-based skilled migration, permanent employer-sponsored programme, business innovation and investment programme, and distinguished talent), family stream categories (e.g. family reunion, such as partner, child, parent and other family members); special eligibility stream (e.g. former residents with sustained ties with Australia and people subject to resolution of status), and humanitarian programme categories (e.g. refugees and other people with special humanitarian needs) (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009). These migration streams suggest that immigrants to Australia come from different environments. Therefore, their physical and mental health is affected by many factors, including the pre-migration environment in country of origin, the timing or wave of migration, the migration stream category and the degree of integration in Australia. This chapter starts with the description of the various aspects of immigration to Australia. It then moves on to examine the health burden among migrant populations and to discuss the validity of the healthy migrant effect. It concludes by outlining research priorities to reduce migration-related inequalities.