Professor Graeme Hugo

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, today paid tribute to Professor Graeme Hugo AO, who has died aged 68.

“It is with great sadness we learnt today of the passing of Professor Hugo,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

“As Parliamentary Secretary with my special responsibility for multicultural affairs and settlement services, I saw first-hand his invaluable contribution to research into migrant and refugee settlement and experiences.

“The highly respected geographer and academic contributed enormously to the body of evidence and analysis of migrant settlement and outcomes in Australia.

“In recent years he worked on ground-breaking research into the economic, social and civic contributions of first and second generation humanitarian entrants.

“He contributed to the understanding of the experiences of youth of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Australia and I was privileged to launch his landmark research in this area CALD Youth Census Report 2014 at the Multicultural Youth Education and Development Centre last August in Adelaide.

“His particular area of interest was humanitarian migration to Australia and the economic contribution of those Australians. I am particularly grateful for his excellent research in A Significant Contribution: The Economic, Social and Civic Contributions of First and Second Generation Humanitarian Entrants, 2011.”

Senator Fierravanti-Wells said Professor Hugo was a prolific author and held a number of positions with Federal Government agencies and committees.

“He was held in very high esteem at the University of Adelaide and through his generous sharing of his intellect and vision, the wider community,” she said.

“He will be greatly missed.”