An Exploration of Key Informant Perspectives on Factors Influencing Settlement of Male Hazara Youth Who Migrated to Melbourne as Unaccompanied Minors

The global displacement crisis has grown significantly, with the number of forcibly displaced people rising from 45.2 million in 2012 to 70.8 million in 2018, positioning Australia as a key destination for asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors from conflict-affected regions such as Afghanistan (UNHCR, 2016, 2017, 2018). This qualitative case study examines the settlement experiences of Hazara unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors (UAMs) and former UAMs (fUAMs) in Melbourne, Australia. Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems theory and Social Networks theory, the study explores how structural, social, and cultural dynamics interact to shape the settlement trajectories of male Afghan Hazara youth. Data from 12 semi-structured interviews with caseworkers and English language teachers reveal a sharp discontinuity in support based on age. While UAMs under 18 benefit from comprehensive, government-funded services supporting language acquisition, education, and social engagement, these services are abruptly withdrawn at age 18. As a result, fUAMs face heightened risks of housing instability, unemployment, low health and financial literacy, and social isolation. These vulnerabilities are compounded by intersecting challenges related to ethnicity, religion, visa status, trauma, and disrupted education. Despite these barriers, Hazara youth often demonstrate resilience through community networks, cultural coping strategies, and civic engagement. However, the study finds that internal strengths alone are insufficient without ongoing, structured support. It calls for the implementation of a Post-18 Continuum Model and highlights international best practices from Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK as models for trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate care. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally responsive, rights-based settlement policies that address both the immediate and long-term needs of refugee-background youth in Australia.