Migrant Settlement Work as Anti-Violence Work: How Intersectionality in Policy Is Not Reflected in Practice

Migrant women experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV) often struggle to access government funded supports. This article draws on in-depth interviews with migrant services workers in Australia to examine how this occurs, despite Australia’s policy framework adopting an intersectional approach. Participants described being unable to refer women to DFV services and delivering core DFV support. They felt their racialized and feminized labor was structurally ignored, limiting their capacity to support migrant women. Their insights reveal how the absence of structural reform that adequately funds migrant services has failed to materialize an intersectional response for migrant women in practice.