A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior finds that most informational materials meant to assist refugees are written above the recommended reading level

November 5, 2025 – A new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, found that refugees resettling in Australia face high rates of food insecurity, but this new research reveals that most informational materials designed to support them are written at reading levels far too advanced for effective use to address their needs.

The study assessed 184 government and community-developed materials meant to help refugees navigate food access and nutrition in their new environment. Researchers found that while nearly all resources were accurate, suitable, and current, 96% were written above the recommended readability level for refugee audiences.

Nearly 70% of the materials were created by Australian government agencies, but topic coverage was narrow, and many failed to consider cultural and linguistic diversity. The research team used established evaluation tools—the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM), the Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) test, and the American Library Association’s currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose (CRAAP) framework—to assess readability, relevance, and authority.

“Access to clear, understandable information about how to find and prepare food in the Australian food environment, including finding cultural foods, is vital during resettlement. People living as refugees bring many food skills and strengths with them, but the new food environment may be very different from their original food environment,” said lead author Julie M. Wood, MHumNut, Graduate Researcher, Deakin University’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition. “Our findings show that even when resources exist, they may not be accessible to the very people they’re designed to support.”

The authors emphasize the importance of using plain language and cultural tailoring when developing future resources. The study underscores the need for collaboration between government agencies, settlement service providers, and refugee communities to ensure materials are linguistically and culturally appropriate, visually engaging, and relevant to refugees’ lived experiences.