Changing patterns of migration to Australia and their influence on the health of migrants

Whilst before World War II migration to Australia was almost entirely from the British Isles, over 60% of post-War II migrants came from other countries other than Britain. They arrived in Australia in distinct waves: Eastern European refugees were followed by migrants from Western Europe, who were later replaced by migrants from the Mediterranean Basin and finally by Asians, initially from the Indian subcontinent, afterwards from Lebanon and most recently from Indo-China. These patterns of migration were changing the numerical size, age distribution and length of residence in Australia of the different ethnic groups. The paper describes the influence of these changes on physical and mental health of the migrants. Physical morbidity was related to 'imported diseases', to the different physical and social environment and to differences and changes in eating and other habits. Psychiatric disorders were associated with traumatic experiences encountered prior to migration, and with stresses of migration and adjustment to the new country. Thus, in evaluating the health of immigrants, one has to take into account the sources from which the migrants were drawn, their situation in the host society, their numerical growth and age distribution, as well as acculturation to the country settlement.