Limited English skills and a lack of experience means many refugees are struggling to use phones and the internet when they arrive in Australia.

Thirty immigrants were interviewed for a University of Technology Sydney study and found that many misunderstood the terms and conditions of their mobile phone contracts resulting in high bills, while others didn’t use telecommunications at all for fear they would be monitored by the government.

The author of the report Dr Linda Leung is calling for greater education on telecommunications for refugees.