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Dr Claire Higgins

Dr Claire Higgins

Senior Research Fellow
Law & Justice
School of Global & Public Law

Dr. Claire Higgins is an historian and Senior Research Fellow at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Law. Claire is also an Affiliate Scholar at Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of International Migration. She holds a doctorate in History from the University of Oxford, where she studied as a Clarendon Scholar, and is the author of Asylum by Boat: Origins of Australia’s refugee policy (NewSouth, 2017). 

Claire holds a Australian Research Council DECRA to research the history of protected entry procedures for refugees. She is also a co-CI on an Australian Research Council Linkage grant to research skilled employment for refugees in regional Australia. In 2018 Claire was a Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar at Georgetown University undertaking comparative research on the history of the U.S. refugee admissions program.
Phone
02 93852250
E-mail
c.higgins@unsw.edu.au
  • Books | 2017
    Higgins CM, 2017, Asylum by Boat: origins of Australia's refugee policy, NewSouth Publishing, Sydney
  • Book Chapters | 2023
    Higgins C, 2023, 'Departure by Diplomacy: a History of Refugee Resettlement Offers between Australia and the United States', in When Migrants Fail to Stay New Histories on Departures and Migration, Bloomsbury Publishing,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, 'In-Country Programs', in Juss SS (ed.), Research Handbook on International Refugee Law, Edward Elgar Publishing,
    Book Chapters | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, 'In-country programs: the procedure and politics of an additional pathway to protection', in Juss SS (ed.), RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE LAW, EDWARD ELGAR PUBLISHING LTD, pp. 44 - 56,
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Higgins CM, 2016, 'The (un-)sustainability of Australia’s offshore processing and settlement policy', in Moreno-Lax V; Papastavridis E (ed.), Boat Refugees and Migrants at Sea: A Comprehensive Approach Integrating Maritime Security with Human Rights, Brill,
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Higgins C, 2007, 'The relationship between textile and clothing workers and their trade unions', in The Time of Their Lives: the eight hour day and working life, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History, Melbourne, pp. 123 - 135
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Tani Bertuol M; Wang B; Baker S; Higgins C; Cousins S; Cheng Z; Jack VA, 2023, 'Refugees as skilled migrants: insights from Australia’s 2018 employer-sponsored refugee migration pilot', Social Indicators Research: an international and interdisciplinary journal for quality-of-life measurement, 170, pp. 323 - 338,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Higgins C, 2022, 'Australia's Refugee Resettlement Agreement with the United States: The Diplomacy and Uncertainty of a “Very Big Dealâ€', Australian Journal of Politics and History, 68, pp. 197 - 217,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Tani Bertuol M; Baker S; Higgins C; Cousins S, 2022, 'Refugees are a valuable but overlooked economic resource, and it is time to update our approach to migration', The Australian Economic Review, 55, pp. 273 - 280,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Higgins C, 2018, 'Revisiting Reception', History Australia, 15, pp. 834 - 835,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Betts J; Higgins C, 2017, 'The Sri Lankan Civil War and Australia's Migration Policy Response: A Historical Case Study with Contemporary Implications', Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 4, pp. 272 - 285,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Higgins C, 2016, 'New Evidence on refugee status determination in Australia, 1978-1983', Refugee Survey Quarterly, 35, pp. 71 - 93,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Higgins CM, 2016, 'Status determination of Indochinese boat arrivals: a balancing act in Australia', Journal of Refugee Studies, pp. 89 - 105,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Higgins C, 2014, 'Australia's little known in-country programme in latin America', Refugee Survey Quarterly, 33, pp. 8 - 24,
  • Reports | 2021
    Higgins C; Fee M, 2021, The risks of 'in-country' processing: an assessment of the US Central American Minors Program,
    Submissions to Government | 2021
    Higgins C; Goodwin-Gill G, 2021, Committee inquiry into Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan, ,
    Other | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, Three things to know about getting Afghan refugees to safety, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law website, ,
    Reports | 2021
    McAdam J; Goodwin-Gill G; Gleeson M; Higgins C; Pillai S; Hodgson N; Yacoub N, 2021, Submission on the Nationality and Borders Bill 2021,
    Other | 2020
    Higgins C; Brizar M, 2020, Complementary refugee pathways: Labour mobility schemes, ,
    Conference Presentations | 2020
    Higgins C, 2020, 'Between Humanitarianism and Closure: International Refugee Policies since the Late 1970s - Australia', presented at American Historical Association annual meeting, New York, 03 January 2020 - 06 January 2020,
    Other | 2020
    Higgins C, 2020, Complementary refugee pathways: Protected entry schemes, ,
    Reports | 2020
    Higgins C, 2020, Protecting Refugees and Australia's Interests, ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre,
    Other | 2020
    Higgins C, 2020, Refugees and asylum seekers: was the federal budget a missed opportunity?, ,
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, 'Complementary pathways for admission under the GCR: a study of in-country processing and protected entry procedures', presented at UNHCR GCR Academic Interdisciplinary Network, Geneva, 13 November 2019 - 13 November 2019
    Conference Presentations | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, 'Opening the embassy doors', presented at Australian Historical Association annual conference, University of Southern Queensland, 08 July 2019 - 12 July 2019,
    Other | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, Protected Entry: a safer alternative pathway, UNHCR GCR Digital Platform, ,
    Reports | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, Safe Journeys and Sound Policy: Expanding Protected Entry for Refugees, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Sydney, Sydney, Policy Brief no. 8,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Higgins C, 2018, 'How Italy's Humanitarian Corridors have created pathways to protection in Europe', presented at CCIS Seminar Series, University of California San Diego, 14 February 2018 - 14 February 2018,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Higgins C, 2018, 'How Italy's Humanitarian Corridors have created pathways to protection in Europe', presented at International Conference on Refugee Policies and Refugee Movements, UCLA, 16 February 2018 - 16 February 2018,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Higgins C, 2018, 'How Italy's Humanitarian Corridors have created pathways to protection in Europe', presented at Liechtenstein Institute on Self-determination at Princeton University, Princeton University, 19 April 2018 - 19 April 2018,
    Reports | 2018
    Wood T; Higgins C, 2018, Special humanitarian intakes: enhancing protection through targeted refugee resettlement, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ, Sydney,
    Other | 2017
    Higgins C; Wootten H, 2017, Editorial,
    Other | 2016
    Higgins C, 2016, Australian community attitudes to asylum seekers and refugees,
    Conference Presentations | 2016
    Higgins CM, 2016, 'Australia’s in-country programs: a new perspective on the Department of Immigration’s approach to refugee policy and its relationship with Foreign Affairs', presented at Symposium: The Commonwealth Department of Immigration: Then and Now, La Trobe University, Melbourne, 19 February 2016 - 19 February 2016
    Conference Presentations | 2016
    Higgins CM, 2016, 'Is there a future for in-country processing? Evidence from United States, Canadian and Australian history', presented at Refugee Law Initiative First Annual Conference, University of London, 29 June 2016 - 01 July 2016
    Conference Presentations | 2016
    Higgins CM, 2016, 'Pathway to protection or control measure? Historical research on in-country processing', presented at Conference of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration, Poznan, Poland, 12 July 2016 - 15 July 2016
    Conference Presentations | 2016
    Higgins CM, 2016, 'The merits of in-country processing: lessons from Canadian and Australian refugee policy history', presented at Global Histories of Refugees in the 20th and 21st Centuries, University of Melbourne, 06 October 2016 - 08 October 2016
    Conference Presentations | 2015
    Higgins CM, 2015, 'Australian refugee policy: a means to what end?', presented at Comparative Asylum Conference, UC San Diego, 30 November 2015 - 30 November 2015
    Conference Presentations | 2015
    Higgins CM, 2015, 'Towards a new understanding of the Fraser government’s refugee policy', presented at Australian Historical Association annual conference, University of Sydney, 08 July 2015 - 09 July 2015
    Reports | 2015
    McAdam J; Appleby G; Higgins C, 2015, Migration Amendment (Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2015, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law; Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ, Sydney,
    Reports | 2014
    Higgins CM; Douglas B; Keski-Nummi A; McAdam J; McLeod T, 2014, Beyond the Boats: Building an Asylum and Refugee Policy for the Long Term
    Conference Presentations | 2014
    Higgins CM, 2014, 'A politically sensitive rescue mission: Australia's little known in-country program', presented at Between Principle and Pragmatism: Australia and Refugee Law, 60 Years On, »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ, 03 November 2014 - 03 November 2014
    Conference Presentations | 2014
    Higgins CM, 2014, 'Operation Sovereign Borders: a sustainable policy approach?', presented at 'Boat Refugees' and Migrants at Sea: A Comprehensive Approach Integrating Maritime Security with Human Rights, University of London, 23 June 2014 - 24 June 2014
    Conference Presentations | 2014
    Higgins CM, 2014, 'The cost and the controversy of Australia's Operation Sovereign Borders', presented at Centre for Refugee Studies seminar, York University, Toronto, 01 October 2014 - 01 October 2014
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 2014
    Higgins CM, 2014, ‘Australia should resume processing refugees in their own countries’, Sydney Morning Herald, Published: 03 November 2014, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works
    Recorded / Rendered Creative Works | 2014
    Higgins CM, 2014, ‘International legal obligations once shaped our refugee policy’, http://johnmenadue.com/blog/?p=2592, Published: 23 October 2014, Recorded / Rendered Creative Works
    Reports | 2009
    Higgins C, 2009, Offshore refugees: settlement experiences of humanitarian arrivals in Australia, Parliamentary Library, Parliament of Victoria, Melbourne,
  • Media | 2023
    McAdam J; Barbour B; Higgins C; Ghezelbash D; Gleeson M; Harley T, 2023, Our cruel and costly offshore processing system was a failure. We have a better solution on asylum policy, The Conversation,
    Media | 2022
    Higgins C; Jefferies R, 2022, With Australia reopening its borders to tourists, why are thousands of refugees still waiting for entry?, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, Afghan refugees can no longer wait — Australia must offer permanent protection now, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, Could the Biden administration pressure Australia to adopt more humane refugee policies?, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, Immigration Detention Budget, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, Resettling refugees in other countries is not reliable, nor is it fair. So, why is Australia doing it?, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, There’s a way to get refugees out of Afghanistan after this week’s deadline — if the Taliban agrees, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, ‘Refugee resettlement and the remaking of America’s image abroad’, ,
    Media | 2021
    Higgins C, 2021, ‘With billions more allocated to immigration detention, it’s another bleak year for refugees’, ,
    Media | 2020
    Higgins C, 2020, Refugees and asylum seekers: was the federal budget a missed opportunity?,
    Media | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, 'A way forward on refugees', ,
    Media | 2019
    Higgins C, 2019, How a visa for asylum seekers could grant safe passage to Europe, ,
    Media | 2018
    Brandt J; Higgins C, 2018, Europe wants to process asylum seekers offshore - the lessons it should learn from Australia, ,
    Media | 2018
    Wood T; Higgins C, 2018, Targeted resettlement is one way to implement Global Refugees Compact, ,
    Media | 2017
    Higgins C, 2017, Australia is bankrupting its global standing with deportation by destitution policy,
    Media | 2017
    Higgins C, 2017, Australia's long history of offshore detention,
    Media | 2017
    Higgins C, 2017, Australian refugee policy: twists in the tale,
    Media | 2017
    Higgins C, 2017, Dutton should learn to live with lawyers helping in matters of life and death,
    Media | 2017
    Higgins C, 2017, Humanitarian Corridors: safe passages, but only for a few,
    Media | 2017
    Higgins C, 2017, The refugees Australia tried to offshore are still its responsibility,
    Media | 2016
    Higgins C; Voon F, 2016, Dutton's refugee claims are out of step with the evidence and thinking at home and abroad, ,
    Media | 2016
    Higgins C, 2016, Changing the conversation can lead to a better way on asylum seekers, ,
    Media | 2016
    Higgins C, 2016, How Australia turned its back on the refugee crisis, ,
    Media | 2015
    Appleby G; Higgins C, 2015, How much power is too much when dealing with asylum seekers?,
    Media | 2015
    Higgins C; Arar R, 2015, Refugees and an avalanche of numbers, ,
    Media | 2015
    Higgins C; Murray K, 2015, The high price of Australia's refugee policy, ,
    Media | 2015
    Higgins C, 2015, Australia's foreign policy and refugee resettlement, ,
    Media | 2015
    Higgins C, 2015, Experts are being edged out of the new refugee review system. Why?, ,
    Media | 2015
    Higgins C, 2015, How our refugee policy has changed since Fraser, ,
    Media | 2014
    Chia J; Higgins C, 2014, Penny wise, pound foolish: how to really save money on refugees, ,
    Media | 2014
    Douglas B; Higgins C, 2014, Beyond Operation Sovereign Borders, ,
    Media | 2014
    Higgins C, 2014, Australia should resume processing refugees in their own countries, ,
    Media | 2014
    Higgins C, 2014, Slow refugee processing creates fear and uncertainty on Manus Island, ,
    Media | 2014
    Higgins C, 2014, Towed back or locked up: Australia's refugee policy,

Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) 2020, ''.

Australian Research Council Linkage Project 2023, ''