Domestic and Family Violence Among Migrant, Refugee, and Asylum-Seeking Women in Australia: A Scoping Review of Experiences and Support

Abstract Purpose The topic of women from migrant or refugee backgrounds who experience Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) and have restricted or limited access to public funds, legal and social support services is becoming more prominent in Australia. This scoping review explores, what lessons learned can be found in peer-reviewed literature and grey on the integration of the social support and legal interventions associated with DFV among migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking women in Australia. Methods We adhered to the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) framework and PRISMA guidelines to provide evidence on the topic of DFV in Australia between 2000 and 2023 and found 550 articles in the initial search of key data bases such as, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar. This was reduced to 200 when cross referenced with duplicates. Further screening against inclusion/exclusion criteria by two authors separately, resulted in 22 relevant articles meeting all criterion. Results Findings suggest three key themes including Lived experience of Domestic and Family Violence; Protective and Contributing Factors Supporting Women’s Decision Making; and Lack of an Intersectional Approach in Service Delivery. Results indicate there are multiple barriers preventing women from accessing social and legal support services, and urgent policy changes are required to prevent ongoing abuse to them and their children. Conclusions Recommendations include further development of culturally inclusive and holistic approaches in service delivery, research, and policy. It is an urgent requirement to enhance the capacity of service providers and professionals to effectively respond to the needs of migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking women experiencing DFV.