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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 UNSW 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, UNSW 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, UNSW, 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, UNSW, 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, UNSW, 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, ''