Exploring Primary Healthcare Needs Among Migrants in Australia: A Scoping Review.
7 affiliations
- 1School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
- 2Institute for Health, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield, QLD 4300, Australia.
- 3School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.
- 4School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, QLD 4305, Australia.
- 5School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia.
- 6Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
- 7School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Australia is a multicultural country; however, migrants encounter multiple barriers in accessing healthcare services that can detrimentally impact timely healthcare, leading to poor healthcare outcomes. Recognising that primary healthcare services are often the first point of contact for migrants in Australia, the aim of this scoping review was to explore and synthesise the existing evidence on migrants' primary healthcare needs and associated experiences of accessing and engaging with primary health services within the Australian healthcare context. Study type: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Methods: Seven databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed primary research studies published in English between 2013 and 2025 that examined adult migrants' primary healthcare needs and associated experiences in Australia. Data were synthesised using thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included. Migrants' primary healthcare needs centred on improving health literacy, navigating the Australian healthcare system, culturally responsive communication, and access to preventative care and condition-specific health services. Key barriers included language and communication difficulties, limited health literacy, and cultural beliefs and stigma. Trusted relationships with healthcare providers, culturally responsive models of care and community support were identified as enablers of access to and engagement with primary healthcare. Conclusions: Migrants' primary healthcare needs in Australia extend beyond access to clinical services and include health literacy, culturally responsive care, and support to navigate the healthcare system and appropriate preventative health services. The findings highlight opportunities to strengthen primary healthcare policy and practice through improved communication, interpreter access, health literacy initiatives, continuity of care, and community-informed health promotion strategies that are responsive to the diversity of Australia's migrant communities.
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BibTeX
@article{east2026exploring,
title = {{Exploring Primary Healthcare Needs Among Migrants in Australia: A Scoping Review.}},
author = {Leah East and Rebecca M Jedwab and Jessica Elliott and Vainess Mbuzi and Liz Ryan and Aletha Ward and Amornrat Saito and Anthea Fagan and Tao Wang},
journal = {Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/healthcare14193168},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42881605},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploring Primary Healthcare Needs Among Migrants in Australia: A Scoping Review.
AU - Leah East
AU - Rebecca M Jedwab
AU - Jessica Elliott
AU - Vainess Mbuzi
AU - Liz Ryan
AU - Aletha Ward
AU - Amornrat Saito
AU - Anthea Fagan
AU - Tao Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
JO - Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/healthcare14193168
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42881605
AB - Background/Objectives: Australia is a multicultural country; however, migrants encounter multiple barriers in accessing healthcare services that can detrimentally impact timely healthcare, leading to poor healthcare outcomes. Recognising that primary healthcare services are often the first point of contact for migrants in Australia, the aim of this scoping review was to explore and synthesise the existing evidence on migrants' primary healthcare needs and associated experiences of accessing and engaging with primary health services within the Australian healthcare context. Study type: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Methods: Seven databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed primary research studies published in English between 2013 and 2025 that examined adult migrants' primary healthcare needs and associated experiences in Australia. Data were synthesised using thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included. Migrants' primary healthcare needs centred on improving health literacy, navigating the Australian healthcare system, culturally responsive communication, and access to preventative care and condition-specific health services. Key barriers included language and communication difficulties, limited health literacy, and cultural beliefs and stigma. Trusted relationships with healthcare providers, culturally responsive models of care and community support were identified as enablers of access to and engagement with primary healthcare. Conclusions: Migrants' primary healthcare needs in Australia extend beyond access to clinical services and include health literacy, culturally responsive care, and support to navigate the healthcare system and appropriate preventative health services. The findings highlight opportunities to strengthen primary healthcare policy and practice through improved communication, interpreter access, health literacy initiatives, continuity of care, and community-informed health promotion strategies that are responsive to the diversity of Australia's migrant communities.
SN - 2227-9032
ER -