Launch of the Ukrainian refugees project (URP)

There is a huge need for knowledge on how this vulnerable group experience their own needs for support and on their unique experiences of receiving help from public health and welfare services in the recipient countries. In this qualitative in-depth study experienced researchers will conduct narrative interviews with Ukrainian refugees living in Norway to unpack their stories of fleeing Ukraine, arriving in Norway and anchoring their new lives in the Norwegian welfare state. The Study will be organized as an independent work package in a larger international study of Ukrainian refugees’ experiences with using health and welfare services in their recipient countries, spanning 8 countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, The Chzeck republic and UK. Ukrainians who have left their country during war and are settling in host countries have unique health and social needs due to their experiences of trauma, loss and the profound disruption of their daily lives as well as plans for their futures. Their lived experience and first-hand knowledge can contribute to learning for others involved in providing support and care for this group, about how to best foster their wellness and recovery after these traumatic events, but also for other displaced persons, their families, and hosts in their new country. To understand the context for these experiences, and become knowledgeable about the appropriate questions to ask, or to determine what sorts of research outputs would be of value to displaced people, their hosts and care providers, researchers need to work in partnership with those at the front-line of health and social programs working with Ukrainians displaced by war and with refugees themselves. In this way, we can learn together how best to apply the right sort of research approaches so that the results are relevant and of practical value in the hands of knowledge users. This research aims to contribute to improved experiences and decision-making for Ukrainian people settling in host countries, through gathering and sharing stories of what matters to them, and those that care for them, and co-producing an online resource using this experiential evidence for use by Ukrainian displaced persons and their providers.