Levels of anxiety are rising among emerging refugee and migrant communities in Australia because of the conflict in the Middle East, increasingly negative political narratives around migration and the continuing cost of living crisis, a survey of community leaders has found.

A focus group of 35 community leaders in 21 key cohort migrant and refugee groups, surveyed in April and May by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, reported high levels of nascent stress in their communities.

Eighty-two per cent of respondents said the conflict in the Middle East was source of anxiety, 91 per cent cited negative narratives around migration and 71 per cent cited cost of living.

Finding meaningful work was cited by 42 per cent of communities and housing by 46 per cent.

All of the respondents said stress levels in their communities were higher than six months ago and more than half said stress level in their communities were higher than in the general community.

Asked, on a scale of one to ten (with ten the worst), how significantly have members of communities had been affected by the conflict in the Middle East, the average score was 7.

Asked on a scale of one to ten (with ten the worst), how significantly have members of communities had been affected by current narratives around migration, the average score was 8.

Asked on a scale of one to ten (with ten the worst), how significantly have members of communities had been affected by the cost-of-living crisis, the average score was 7.

Iranians were most worried about the conflict in the Middle East, followed by Syrians and Iraqis. Communities from Africa, China and the Middle East were the most worried about negative narratives around migration.

Communities from Africa, Myanmar, The Philippines and Sri Lanka reported the highest anxiety levels over cost-of-living increases.

Most community leaders reported higher anxiety levels than the general community except for those from China, Tibet, India, Vietnam, Nepal and Malaysia.

But a counter narrative also emerged from the survey of community members using their resilience and community connections to support each other.

And all community leaders reported that their community members were generally happy with their lives in Australia.

The survey comes in the wake of the February 2026 attack on Iran and its regional allies launched by the US and Israel. The conflict began when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran targeting military and government sites and assassinating several Iranian Officials, including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Despite promises by the US that the war would last just days, it has dragged on for more than two months creating economic fallout and geopolitical uncertainty.

In the 12 months to December 2025, the Australia Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) Living Cost Indexes (LCIs) recorded rises between 2.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent. Housing, food and non-alcoholic beverages and recreation and culture saw the highest rises. If the war in Iran continues and the Gulf of Hormuz remains closed, households could face even greater economic pressure.

Also, in the past few months there has been an increased in political dialogue around migrants with political parties pledging to end migration. There have also been narratives around so-called ‘bad people’ coming from ‘bad countries’.

Iranian community leader ‘Nera’ said her community was living through the conflict in the Middle East “moment by moment”.

“We are not experiencing what is happening from a distance, we are living through it – constantly checking phones, not being able to sleep and with a constant sense of dread,” she said.

“Living outside Iran does not bring us peace of mind. It brings a different kind of torment: knowing something is happening and being powerless to reach those you love.”

South Sudanese community leader ‘Elizabeth’ said hearing negative political narratives about migrants was “scary”.

“When we hear politicians talking about migrants in negative ways, we worry that we will not be welcome here in Australia,” she said.

“The rising cost-of-living is also a big issue in my community. And the rise in fuel prices have made this worse,” she said.

Ukrainian community member ‘Yevheniia’ said the cost-of-living crisis had meant that some Ukrainians, who came to Australia as a result of the Russian invasion of their homeland, have returned home.

“We see a mixture of impacts. If people have found accommodation and a job, they are generally doing well and can cope. But we have seen some people, especially women who came with their children, leaving their husbands behind, have gone home because it’s been hard for them in many ways,” she said.

AMES CEO Melinda Collinson said the survey results were more evidence of the need to protect social cohesion and build relationships between communities.

“It’s clear there is stress building in some of our newest communities because of these factors. We all need to recognise this and do all we can to make sure everyone in Australia feels welcome and supported,” Ms Collinson said