Leisure provision and refugee settlement: A scoping review with stakeholder engagement to inform policy and practice

Abstract

This scoping review explores what is known about the role of leisure provision by not-for-profit (NFP) organizations in supporting refugee settlement, with a focus on the Australian context. As the global refugee population grows, individuals face complex settlement challenges, including social isolation. While government programs deliver structured support, the integration of leisure into settlement services remains underexplored. Guided by the Co-Creation Scoping Review Framework, we synthesized academic and nonacademic literature, finding that leisure can enhance refugees’ wellbeing, social capital, and community cohesion, but participant-related and organizational barriers often limit its impact. Building on these insights, interviews with Australian NFP service providers and a multi-stakeholder roundtable identified key knowledge–practice gaps and co-developed practical strategies for leisure program design, evaluation, and sustainability. Implementing these strategies could strengthen leisure provision and better support refugee settlement outcomes.