Social service inclusion of immigrants through the lens of human rights in Australia

Obed Adonteng‐Kissi, Matthew Mabefam, Nnaemeka Meribe, Frank Darkwa Baffour and Elizabeth Archibong

Development Policy Review, 2025, vol. 43, issue 4

Abstract: Motivation A human‐centred approach to social service design is necessary to encourage social service inclusion and to offer an avenue for social service action in Australia and globally. Purpose The purpose of this article is to ascertain the extent to which social service providers design their services to include immigrants. Approach and methods We draw on literature exploring social service inclusion and the perspectives of 27 social workers and immigrant service users. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight social workers and 19 immigrants who were purposefully selected from Brisbane, Townsville, Melbourne and Sydney. We applied the capability theoretical approach of Amartya Sen as our framework. The interviews were recorded and transcribed using a thematic analysis as the qualitative data analysis approach using NVIVO. Findings We find that service inclusion as an egalitarian system should offer service users equitable access to a service, equitable care during a service and equitable opportunity to leave a service. Policy Implications We argue for social service inclusion that provides opportunity, offers choice, alleviates suffering, and fosters happiness. We further contend that social service agencies should design their services in a way that promotes inclusion and allows service users to get value for the service.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.70021

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:devpol:v:43:y:2025:i:4:n:e70021

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.blackwell ... bs.asp?ref=0950-6764

Access Statistics for this article

Development Policy Review is currently edited by David Booth

More articles in Development Policy Review from Overseas Development Institute Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().