In the field of asylum, Social Work is primarily involved in the provision of basic care (Grundversorgung – GVS), which includes housing, care, counseling, and support for asylum seekers. The systematic exclusion of affected individuals from the mainstream welfare safety net, combined with the specific context of forced migration, shapes the operational framework for Social Work in this area. 

A special aspect of basic care is the accommodation and provision for basic needs of particularly vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, children, individuals with severe physical illnesses, or those with psychiatric diagnoses. Women, LGBTIQ+ persons, and unaccompanied minors who came to Austria to seek refuge also often require specialized support due to their unique life circumstances and needs. 

Currently, the availability of such services varies significantly across Austria’s provinces and largely depends on whether – and to what extent – authorities approve funding for a person’s increased support in the first place. Moreover, refugee assistance is often the topic of fierce political debates and subject to incessant legal changes.

Political and, subsequently, legislative bodies tend to put those seeking refuge in Austria in normative categories. These directly influence funding decisions and result in classifications of individuals as either “deserving of support” or not eligible for assistance. In this context, the title of “Doing Difference” refers not only to the labeling and categorization practices within Social Work but also to the broader mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion within social refugee institutions.

The aim of this research project is to examine services that highlight differences and identify existing gaps in the field.