What do we know about the experiences of migrant care workers in Australia? A scoping study

Abstract

AbstractMigrant workers comprise a significant and growing segment of Australia's non‐professional frontline care workforce. In this article, we offer a scoping study of existing research to investigate what is known about the experiences of migrant workers employed in non‐professional care occupations in Australia. Through a systematic approach, which includes six discrete stages (Arksey and O‘Malley, 2005), we find a growing and substantial literature on migrants working in non‐professional care occupations in Australia. However, we also find that only a small number of studies are concerned with the experiences of migrant workers themselves. This article thematically maps out existing knowledge about these workers—including pathways in and out of paid care work, (under)utilisation of skills, cultural meanings attached to paid care work, experiences at work such as racism and language barriers, and finally how care work is situated in relation to workers’ private lives. We conclude by identifying major gaps in the literature and outlining important avenues for future research.