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Young people from refugee backgrounds as a resource for disaster risk reduction
Abstract
Young people from refugee backgrounds represent an important resource for disaster risk reduction within their respective communities. This paper presents a qualitative study with young people from refugee backgrounds and their experiences of the 2010–2011 Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand. The interviews and focus group discussions with these participants highlighted their capacities as cultural brokers and mediators, as they ensured that their respective communities had access to disaster related information that was translated and interpreted. Thus, young people from refugee backgrounds represent a bridge that can connect people from their ethnic communities to key disaster information through their linguistic capital, digital literacies and social networks to support the recovery process. As part of the recovery effort, these young people also emphasised the need for more inclusive social and recreational spaces to be able to meaningfully participate in the (re)imagining of the city. This paper discusses how young people from refugee backgrounds can offer leadership within their communities and can play integral roles in disaster risk reduction.
... Within many refugee background communities, the elders usually make the important decisions. However, as Marlowe and Bogen (2015) note, refugee young people often adjust to their new country and culture at a quicker rate. Largely due to their school experiences, they are in constant contact and exchange information with members of the wider society. ...
... Through these continuous social encounters, young people learn the host language, and begin to understand, acculturate to, and possibly integrate with, local norms, social protocols and cultural protocols (Marlowe & Bogen, 2015:4) Older members of migrant and refugee families have less connection with the host community while young people tend to develop strong connections to resources and social networks beyond their ethnic community. As a result, young people become cultural brokers, or 'family interpreters' (Faulstich-Orellana (2007) For refugee background communities, inadequate language proficiency is a clear barrier to receiving and accessing correct information (Marlowe & Bogen, 2015) about the pandemic. This deficit in linguistic capital can lead to misunderstanding messages regarding social distancing and lockdown. ...
... During this pandemic, government did provide translated information using various mediums including radio and social media, but this was not offered soon enough and was often translated into formal language, unsuitable for many communities. Young people who used Facebook and WhatsApp became 'linguistic and digital bridges' for their families and communities (Marlowe and Bogen 2015) ensuring that crucial information was received and understood: ...
This paper is an exploration of refugee young peoples’ narratives about their lives and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne. Intersectionality is used as a method and analytical tool to interpret these experiences and show how young people have adapted during this time, taking on roles as navigators, carers, providers, and innovators.The article highlights that the roles young people adopted through the pandemic are very similar to those undertaken by young people in their pre arrival to Australia.The research points to the importance of involving refugee young people in settlement and public health initiatives. Finally, it is argued that we need to recognise refugee young people as experts in their own complex experience, valued partners in settlement, future leadership, and potential change makers.
... Within many refugee background communities, the elders usually make the important decisions. However, as Marlowe and Bogen (2015) note, refugee young people often adjust to their new country and culture at a quicker rate. Largely due to their school experiences, they are in constant contact and exchange information with members of the wider society. ...
... Through these continuous social encounters, young people learn the host language, and begin to understand, acculturate to, and possibly integrate with, local norms, social protocols and cultural protocols (Marlowe & Bogen, 2015:4) Older members of migrant and refugee families have less connection with the host community while young people tend to develop strong connections to resources and social networks beyond their ethnic community. As a result, young people become cultural brokers, or 'family interpreters' (Faulstich-Orellana (2007) For refugee background communities, inadequate language proficiency is a clear barrier to receiving and accessing correct information (Marlowe & Bogen, 2015) about the pandemic. This deficit in linguistic capital can lead to misunderstanding messages regarding social distancing and lockdown. ...
... During this pandemic, government did provide translated information using various mediums including radio and social media, but this was not offered soon enough and was often translated into formal language, unsuitable for many communities. Young people who used Facebook and WhatsApp became 'linguistic and digital bridges' for their families and communities (Marlowe and Bogen 2015) ensuring that crucial information was received and understood: ...
... Within many refugee background communities, the elders usually make the important decisions. However, as Marlowe and Bogen (2015) note, refugee young people often adjust to their new country and culture at a quicker rate. Largely due to their school experiences, they are in constant contact and exchange information with members of the wider society. ...
... For refugee background communities, inadequate language proficiency is a clear barrier to receiving and accessing correct information (Marlowe and Bogen 2015) about the pandemic. This deficit in linguistic capital can lead to misunderstanding of messages regarding social distancing and lockdown. ...
... During this pandemic, government did provide translated information using various mediums including radio and social media, but this was not offered soon enough and was often translated into formal language, unsuitable for many communities. Young people who used Facebook and WhatsApp became 'linguistic and digital bridges' for their families and communities (Marlowe and Bogen 2015) ensuring that crucial information was received and understood: ...
Using data drawn from consultations and interviews with young people from young people of refugee background in Melbourne, Australia, we examine how young people negotiate their lives in the context of settlement, specifically during the current COVID-19 pandemic. We listened to stories about the challenges they faced, and the initiative and actions they took during the lockdown of nine towers in public housing estates of inner Melbourne during June and July of 2020. In this research, we have found that, despite many pre-existing disadvantages, young people of refugee background have responded to the crisis through public health promotion, volunteering, and innovation. The pandemic has highlighted the role that young people play in supporting their families and communities in the settlement/integration process and the added responsibilities young people have assumed in the context of COVID-19. In negotiating these, young people have drawn upon embodied and communal ways of coping. This paper starts with an exploration of refugee young people’s narratives about their lives and experiences during the pandemic. We adopt intersectionality as a method and analytical tool to interpret these experiences and the roles in which young people have enacted during this time—as navigators, carers, providers, and innovators. We end by evaluating the policy gaps these reflect and highlight.
... In these disasters, despite their small proportion (see Table 1), many linguistic minority migrants and refugees were affected. Linguistic minorities are typically considered more vulnerable than the general population partly because of language barriers and structural inequality (Donner & Rodríguez 2008;Marlowe & Bogen 2015), but, when compared to other socially vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly, this particular group has been under-investigated. While refugee groups often receive localized disaster education by resettlement supporting organizations such as the Red Cross, some linguistic minorities such as voluntary migrants and transients may not possess sufficient linguistic competency and disaster knowledge in order to receive critical information and to protect themselves in the wake of disasters. ...
... Pedraza 1996;Uekusa 2009). Marlowe & Bogen (2015) found that even if the first (and second) generation refugees in Christchurch have limited English competency, their multilingual children play a significant role in helping their families get by and communicate with others (e.g. government agencies, local organizations, neighbors) in the Canterbury disasters. As children of immigrant families often help their parents to live in host countries (Portes & Hao 2002), multilingual children can play a significant role in coping with disaster linguicism in the Canterbury disasters (e.g. ...
... As children of immigrant families often help their parents to live in host countries (Portes & Hao 2002), multilingual children can play a significant role in coping with disaster linguicism in the Canterbury disasters (e.g. Marlowe & Bogen 2015). In this specific instance, parents who lack linguistic capital are able to use their social capital to take advantage of their children's linguistic capital. ...
Language is a means of communication but it functions as much more than this in social life. In emergencies and disasters, it can also be a matter of life and death. Language barriers and effective communication in disaster contexts (i.e. distributing critical disaster information and warnings) are the central concern in current disaster research, practice, and policy. However, based on the data drawn from qualitative interviews with linguistic minority immigrants and refugees in Canterbury, New Zealand and Miyagi, Japan, I argue that linguistic minorities confront unique disaster vulnerability partly due to linguicism—language-based discrimination at multiple levels. As linguicism is often compounded by racism, it is not properly addressed and analyzed, using the framework of language ideology and power. This article therefore introduces the concept of disaster linguicism, employing Pierre Bourdieu's concept of symbolic violence, to explore linguistic minorities’ complex disaster experiences in the 2010–2011 Canterbury and Tohoku disasters. (Disaster linguicism, language barriers, language ideologies)*
... These young refugees serve as a bridge connecting people from their ethnic communities to crucial disaster information through their linguistic capital, digital literacy, and social networks to support the post-disaster recovery process. They can significantly contribute to enhancing societal capacity through supportive roles they can undertake in reducing disaster risks [14]. ...
... It is believed that facilitating the active participation of Syrian youth proficient in languages in disaster risk reduction and rescue processes could serve as a significant communication network within their communities. Granting an active role to young refugees in disaster risk management can be beneficial both to their communities and to the local population [14]. Such a situation could also accelerate the process by contributing to the social integration of refugees. ...
This study focuses on the impact of destructive earthquakes in Türkiye, specifically addressing the situation of Syrian refugees in the context of natural disasters. On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5 occurred in the southeastern region of Türkiye, centered in the Kahramanmaraş province, specifically affecting Pazarcik and Elbistan. These earthquakes significantly affected the central region and 11 surrounding provinces, resulting in numerous casualties and property losses. Moreover, the earthquakes had a substantial impact on Syrian refugees residing intensively in this region of Türkiye. The earthquakes triggered a humanitarian crisis for the both host country’s citizens and Syrian refugees. This study aims to address the challenges faced by refugees in the face of natural disasters and provide recommendations for the reconstruction phase after the disaster.
... For instance, Mitchell et al (2009) documented the role of young people from the Vietnamese community in New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina, in assisting the evacuation and relief efforts, as they could translate key information (food distribution, access to relief supplies, etc) from formal English sources for their families. Marlowe and Bogen (2015) have provided evidence of how young people from refugee backgrounds acted as cultural brokers and mediators during the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand, ensuring their respective communities had access to disaster-related information and that this information was properly translated and interpreted. Children and young people can also be accomplished social networkers and community-builders, mobilising people and resources (Geiselhart et al, 2008), volunteering, raising funds and providing mutual help and peer counselling. ...
... In many instances, because of their recent arrival, these families are often not considered in emergency planning. Research has shown that migrant children often act as cultural brokers in their communities, as they tend to adapt to new contexts more quickly than their parents/carers, and can assume an important role of interpretation and translation for their families (Mitchell et al, 2008;Marlowe and Bogen, 2015). Recognising their capacities and finding ways to incorporate their contributions in emergency planning strategies is central for improving the resilience of their communities. ...
Disasters are an increasingly common and complex combination of environmental, social and cultural factors. Yet existing response frameworks and emergency plans tend to homogenise affected populations as ‘victims’, overlooking the distinctive experience, capacities and skills of children and young people.
Drawing on participatory research with more than 550 children internationally, this book argues for a radical transformation in children’s roles and voices in disasters. It shows practitioners, policy-makers and researchers how more child-centred disaster management, that recognises children’s capacity to enhance disaster resilience, actually benefits at-risk communities as a whole.
... Also, low literacy rates can limit access to disaster warnings and cause a distrust of warning messages. Cultural factors can lead to differing or inaccurate perceptions and understanding of disaster risk (Field 2017;Hansen et al. 2013;Kruger et al. 2015;Marlowe and Bogen 2015). For example, cultural knowledge and practices about flooding and storms could be different and could be used to misinterpret flood and storm risk and adaptation in the host country (Grayman et al. 2019). ...
... Another way to reach members, particularly older people with language barriers, is through young members such as children who have the hostcountry language ability, digital literacy, and access to social and conventional media (Hansen et al. 2013;Hanson-Easeya et al. 2018;Grayman et al. 2019;Tierney 2014;Lindell and Perry 2003). These young people could act as "gatekeepers" of information or linguistic and cultural brokers who bridge leaders of their social networks with emergency institutions (Marlowe and Bogen 2015). For example, Appleby-Arnold et al. (2018) found that children of non-native residents of Malta who had gained better assimilation of the Maltese culture and better mastery of the English or Maltese language through the local education system played a role as key communicators in disaster events. ...
The number and diversity of migrant communities living in cities in developed countries are increasing. These have exerted more pressure on both physical and social infrastructures that have already been impacted by climate change. Improv- ing migrant communities’ resilience to adverse climate events is a priority of the inclusive disaster risk reduction strategy prescribed in the urban resilience agendas in the Global North. This chapter discusses the characteristics of migrant communities and wider social environments that contribute to their vulnerability or resilience to climate extremes. It contends that physical, built, and natural environments make an insignificant contribution to migrant communities’ cli- matic vulnerability. In contrast, their social, cultural, and economic conditions are stronger determining factors of their adaptive capacity. Further, the disaster management system and the broader social, economic, and political systems of the host country play a substantial structural role in effecting their vulnerability and resilience. Hence, approaches to enhancing climate resilience of urban migrant communities in developed countries should go beyond technical plan- ning and embrace sociopolitical and cultural complexities embedded in urban governance systems. Assistance should go beyond short-term relief and recovery, focus on risk mitigation and preparedness, and prioritize long-term, diversity- sensitive community development that mitigates inherent structural bottlenecks.
... The humanitarian actors are addressing these issues by emphasizing on sustainable learning approaches, including the establishment of new learning centres, mainstreaming weather and disaster management related issues in learning materials, and alternative learning modalities (i.e., home-based learning, mobile learning, radio-based teaching) [13]. Marlowe and Bogen (2015) found that young people from refugee backgrounds in New Zealand can be leaders in DRR within their communities [36], which necessitates proving wider DRR education and training among the Rohingya children and adolescents. ...
... The humanitarian actors are addressing these issues by emphasizing on sustainable learning approaches, including the establishment of new learning centres, mainstreaming weather and disaster management related issues in learning materials, and alternative learning modalities (i.e., home-based learning, mobile learning, radio-based teaching) [13]. Marlowe and Bogen (2015) found that young people from refugee backgrounds in New Zealand can be leaders in DRR within their communities [36], which necessitates proving wider DRR education and training among the Rohingya children and adolescents. ...
Bangladesh is currently hosting more than one million stateless Rohingya refugees, who fled from the Rakhine State to avoid serious crimes against humanity persecuted by the Myanmar Army. The newly arrived Rohingyas were accommodated in overcrowded refugee camps in Cox's Bazar District (CBD). The camps are highly vulnerable to landslides, tropical cyclones, flash-flooding, and communicable disease outbreak. Although a number of improvement measures are ongoing, however, no study to date has addressed Rohingyas' self-adopted strategies to mitigate disaster risks. Consequently, this paper aims to explore how refugees cope with risks associated with environmental hazards in the Kutupalong Rohingya Camp in CBD. A mixed-methods research strategy incorporating both quantitative household questionnaire survey and qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs) techniques were applied. In total 250 Rohingya refugees were selected for the questionnaire survey using a stratified random sampling method from camps 17 and 19, and two FGDs (male and female-only) were carried out in camp 13 involving 21 Rohingya participants. Results derived from the study show that responding to early warning systems, storing dried food and medicine, utilising available resources, relocating to safer shelters, and keeping hopes high were some of the coping strategies practised by the respondents. Literacy level imposed a significant impact over respondents' perception to accept various measures. For instance, the probability of storing dried food in preparation for disasters was 4 times higher among literate Rohingya compared to their illiterate counterparts. Similarly, for literate respondents, the probability was 20 times higher to store medicine than for illiterate. Guaranteed distribution of shelter strengthening kits among all refugee households, inclusion of disaster risk awareness and preparedness trainings, ensuring safe and dignified return in Myanmar, and global and regional cooperation to address the refugee crisis are some of the propositions recommended in this study for improving Rohingyas' future adaptation strategies in a humanitarian context.
... The underlying economic, social, political, and legal policies and actions set out may present predefined limitations to dealing with hazards. Such limitations may include livelihood security; control over access to information and communication (such as multi-hazard early warnings); access to resources and facilities (such as relief aid and evacuation centers); and, restricted or lack of migration freedom [Marlowe and Bogen, 2015;Goodwin-Gill, 2019;Pollock et al., 2019;Zaman et al., 2020;Van Den Hoek, Wrathall and Friedrich, 2021]. A lack of addressing any or all of these issues can place migrants in a more precarious situation, potentially leading them to be disproportionately affected by disasters. ...
This chapter debunks the widely circulated rhetoric that climate change and subsequent disasters are and will cause mass migration. Whilst the chapter does not discredit that individuals are being forcibly displaced, it does argue that the current claim is too superficial as it lacks engagement with the reality of migration practices. This chapter draws on social science studies from climate change, human migration, refugee, environmental, and disaster literature to argue that migration and climate change are complex processes that go beyond the standard linear causality claim. Social, economic, political, cultural, and psychological factors influence choices and abilities to migrate. This chapter explores such factors in relation to types of migration. Next, it further investigates experiences of forced displacement and facing risks and disasters. It highlights how displaced individuals experience additional challenges during disasters due to fewer legal rights, unfamiliarity with local hazards and weather patterns, and barriers to resources and services. It is argued that the experiences of displaced populations need to be further integrated into the climate change and migration discourses. Overall, climate change and disasters are some of the many influences of migration. This chapter's findings are important for migration, climate change, and disaster initiatives and policies.
... The cultural and linguistic diversity within refugee communities adds additional complexities that must be considered for effective disaster response (Hanson-Easey Scott et al., 2015;Spittles & Fozdar, 2008). Specifically, cultural beliefs and attitudes play a crucial role in shaping these communities' perceptions of potential hazards, influencing their disaster preparedness, and determining their responsiveness to government warnings (Marlowe & Bogen, 2015). ...
The global crisis of displacement, prominently illustrated by Ukrainian refugees and Turkish asylum seekers in Germany, presents a multifaceted challenge that demands proficient emergency management and adept policy intervention. Ukrainian refugees have sought safety from the 2022 Russian invasion, while Turkish asylum seekers, fleeing from the government’s crackdown on opposition groups in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt in Türkiye, differ from Germany’s earlier Turkish migrants by often being highly educated and previously holding significant prominence in society. With an influx of Ukrainian and Turkish populations into Germany, the diaspora introduces unique challenges. Analyzing the plight and integration of these groups into German society offers critical insights for disaster management professionals. It elucidates the complexities of aiding refugees and asylum seekers, emphasizing the importance of tailored public policies and humanitarian efforts. This chapter aids in addressing immediate needs and understanding the broader implications of forced migration. For disaster management stakeholders, this scenario enhances global cultural competency and humility, and simultaneously refines strategies for managing crises stemming from conflict or political unrest, thereby strengthening the overall effectiveness of international disaster response mechanisms.
... Lowering the linguistic boundaries and increasing general trustworthiness among groups and individuals should be the prime focus at the structural level, even though disasters may temporarily remove traditional boundaries to social networking [31]. However, instead of relying on disaster altruism and outsourcing disaster communication to volunteers, we need more bi/multilingual community translators as social agents, like bilingual youth in Marlowe and Bogen's study [77], who can multi-directionally cross linguistic boundaries, and, so as to achieve structural changes, we need to create more translanguaging spaces for them to do so, and capacity to produce such community translators. ...
This paper offers a conceptual discussion about how multilingualism can provide an unusual yet effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy in multilingual societies. Language barriers (or disaster linguicism) in disasters can be deadly. The general approach to respond to, and solve, this issue is to disseminate disaster information in multilingual formats or to use bi-/multilingual interpreters and (automated) translators. However, this paper raises issues with these conventional “solutions” to disaster linguicism. Since the root causes of disaster linguicism create unique social vulnerability for Indigenous/Tribal, Minority and Minoritized peoples and languages (ITMs), any serious attempt at DRR must reckon with these structural and ideological factors. Multilingualism, incorporating translanguaging, are the preferred theoretical framework and policy responses for progressing effective and sustainable solutions. Unlike conventional approaches to multilingualism, this seeks to develop multi-directional communication schemes by producing more community translators who can translanguage in order to both empower bi-/multilinguals and to decentralize social power.
... One major area of small fire occurrences and their spread has arisen with the global expansion of refugee camps. Refugee camps are often densely packed in which fires can have devastating effects on a population already in crisis (Zaman et al., 2020;Marlowe and Bogen, 2015;Pollock et al., 2019). The study of refugee camp expansions and impacts is itself still quite novel (Hassan et al., 2018). ...
The impacts of fires on society and the environment are wide-ranging, and examining such fire incidents is of critical importance to communities, governments, and scientists. Satellite imagery analysis enables the monitoring of burned scars and can help us better understand the social, ecological, and economic consequences of fires in more detail. However, most satellite studies measuring fire area and impacts focus on large areas in natural landscapes, typically forests. We highlight the need to develop methods for fire detection and analysis in human-dominated landscapes, specifically, such vulnerable populations as those found in refugee camps globally. We calculate a suite of spectral indices (SI’s) developed from Sentinel-2 data with a random forest algorithm to quantify the fire impact on the Rohingya refugee camps in Teknaf, Bangladesh. For this study, we developed a method called the Fractional Charred Index (FCI) using the field plots within the burn areas inside the refugee camp settlements and compared the FCI with differenced Spectral Indices (dSI’s) to quantitively assess the burn severity at four levels: (i) high severity, (ii) moderate severity, (iii) low severity and (iv) unburned camp. Our study identified 140 acres of burn area, damaging over 8,000 refugee shelters, 1,760 of which were severely damaged and 3,452 of which suffered moderate damage. The FCI-dSIs relationship was measured by a simple linear model which indicated that the differenced Normalized Burned Index (dNBR) and the differenced Char Soil Index (dCSI) have the strongest positive correlation and can be used interchangeably to assess the scale and intensity of the fire-caused damage and fire severity assessment in this and similar types of case studies. The novel method presented here to determine fire severity in human-dominated landscapes, specifically refugee camps, may be quickly deployed and is easily interpretable and computationally inexpensive. Therefore, the proposed method of identifying burned settlements in refugee camps has significant potential for impact monitoring, disaster management, and recovery efforts after such fire events.
... Even though we did not find a significant effect of age on the way people use social media during natural hazards, having children in a household might mediate the significance of age. Older family members have been found to be less acquainted with social media in certain families (Baker et al. 2016) but having young people in a family who use social media frequently could increase older peoples' resilience (Marlowe & Bogen 2015;Sobowale et al. 2020). ...
People living in Australia are highly exposed to risks from extreme weather events including floods, bushfires and tropical cyclones. Communication is crucial in emergencies, to prepare for risks, warn people, reduce impacts, save lives and increase resilience. Social media has become increasingly important for both sourcing and disseminating information during natural hazards. The vast amount of data generated by social media users can be analysed for situational awareness, impacts and community sentiments during natural hazards. The full potential for social media to fulfil these roles in Australia is not yet well understood. In this study, we provide a literature review about the use of social media during natural hazards in Australia. We then assess public preferences for the use of social media during natural hazards using data collected through an online survey (n = 1665). Results suggest that social media is still largely underutilised for emergency communication. However, those with a high capacity to prepare for emergencies were more likely to use social media during natural hazards than those who relied on decisions being made by local authorities. Respondents’ age did not explain the use of social media during natural hazards, but gender did with women more likely to do so than men. The presence of children in a household increased the use of social media during natural hazards, suggesting that the family structure plays a role in disaster communication. Finally, the main barriers to using social media during natural hazards were the spread of conflicting information and rumours on social media.
... The inclusion of the family, through a culturally and linguistically appropriate model, will ultimately benefit the youth as most the Rohingya youth in our study highlighted the importance of family and family ties. The inclusion of the family is key in understand the various roles refugee youth play within their families and communities as young people (Couch et al. 202;Marlowe & Bogen, 2015). ...
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the lives of many around the world, particularly refugee and immigrant communities. In the United States, millions of children and youth had to quickly shift from in-person to remote learning, encountering new challenges and uncertainties in their overall educational experiences. This study explored some of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the educational, socialization, and mental and emotional health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugee youth from Myanmar resettled in the United States. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 Rohingya refugees ages 12-17, we found that Rohingya youth’s experiences with COVID-19 pandemic presented both challenges and opportunities. The challenges included unavailability of personal space to conduct school work, difficulties adjusting to online school due to computer literacy levels, and familial responsibilities that often conflicted with their schooling, as well as feelings of boredom and sadness that consequently impacted their emotional and mental health state. Youth also noted opportunities such as spending more time with their parents who were unable to work due to the pandemic as well as feeling helpful in acting as caregivers to their siblings and in working alongside their parents. Implications for policymakers and educators are also discussed.
... Among our participants, there was a tendency to talk about community and religious leaders as potential information intermediaries in the community; however, previously, it has been suggested that young people can also fulfil this bridging role (Marlowe and Bogen, 2015). Given their linguistic capital and digital literacies, young people have the potential to be cultural brokers and links between decision-makers and the community. ...
Community and religious leaders and other natural leaders from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds have been postulated as a gateway into communities. They act as information intermediaries that enable public health messages to reach individuals. However, there are currently limitations regarding our understanding of these information intermediaries’ regarding their capacity, role, and reach. In-depth interviews were undertaken to understand the perceptions of those working in Australia, including multicultural health, communication and other social support roles focused on CaLD communities, towards the role and impact of information intermediaries in promoting and supporting COVID-19 public health communication and engagement activities. Forty-six semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken with key stakeholders who have an active role in delivering services and other social support to CaLD communities. Four key themes emerged related to the role of information intermediaries during the interviews. Ideas focused on their role in “bridging the gap” and supporting pandemic-related information delivery into communities. Participants felt that there had been a failure by Federal government agencies to recognise the role of these stakeholders early in the pandemic and a failure to provide sufficient resources and support. However, concerns were also raised that public health messages may be inappropriately interpreted or translated by the community information intermediaries or potentially blocked if the message does not align with the broker’s own beliefs. Finally, concerns were raised about the potential for burn-out among information intermediaries. In preparing and responding to pandemics and other disasters, community leaders and other information intermediaries recognise they have an important role to play and must be provided with resources to enhance and sustain their involvement.
... Amongst our participants there was a tendency to talk about community and religious leaders as potential gatekeepers into the community, however previously it has been suggested that young people can ful l this bridging role (Marlowe & Bogen, 2015). Given their linguistic capital and digital literacies, they have the potential to be cultural brokers and links between decision makers and the community. ...
Community and religious leaders, as well as other natural leaders, from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds have been posited as a gateway into communities, acting as information intermediaries that enabler or broker public health messages about the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are currently limitations regarding our understanding of the capacity, role and reach of these leaders. In-depth interviews were undertaken to understand the perceptions of those working in services and other social support roles focused on CaLD communities towards the role and impact of information intermediaries in promoting and supporting COVID-19 public health communication and engagement activities.
Forty-six semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken with key stakeholders who have an active role in the delivery of services and other social support to CaLD communities in Australia. Four key themes emerged related to the role of information intermediaries during the interviews. Ideas around the role they fulfil in “bridging the gap” and supporting the delivery of pandemic related information into communities. Participants suggested that there had been a failure by Federal government agencies to recognise the role of these stakeholders early in the pandemic, as well as a failure to provide sufficient resources and support. However, concerns were also raised that information may be inappropriately interpreted or translated by the community information intermediaries or potentially blocked, if the message does not align with the broker’s own beliefs. Finally, concerns were raised about the potential for burn-out amongst information intermediaries.
It is critical that in preparing and responding to pandemics and other disasters, that there is recognition of the role of community leaders and other information intermediaries and that resources are identified to enhance and sustain their involvement.
... Like these Indigenous communities, (im)migrant and refugee communities are generally believed to be more vulnerable to disasters than the general populations due to existing social oppression (see, e.g., Blaikie et al., 2014;Cutter et al., 2003;Donner & Rodriguez, 2008). Migrant and refugee groups inŌtautahi were not an exception to this statement; following the earthquake, they were socially marginalised and physically isolated, particularly, because of language and cultural barriers (Christchurch Migrant Inter-Agency Group, 2011;Garces-Ozanne et al. in this volume;Marlowe & Bogen, 2015;). However, research shows that these communities self-organised and generally demonstrated remarkable collective responses (Marlowe, 2013;Osman et al., 2012;. ...
This book critically surveys a decade of disasters in Ōtautahi Christchurch. It brings together a diverse range of authors, disciplinary approaches and topics, to reckon with the events that commenced with the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. Each contribution tackles its subject matter through the frame of Critical Disaster Studies (CDS). The events and the subsequent recovery provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn from a series of concatenating urban disasters in order to prepare us for our future on an urban planet facing unprecedented environmental pressures. The book focuses on the production of vulnerability, the human dimensions of disaster, the Indigenous response to disasters and the practical lessons that can be drawn from them.
... 141 However, in a crisis situation, a 'translator' might be any person who can mediate 142 between two or more language and culture systems, without specific training or 143 qualifications (Federici and Cadwell, 2018; O'Brien and Cadwell, 2017). A translator 144 might even be a young refugee (see Marlowe and Bogen, 2015;Melandri et al., 2014). 145 ...
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role that language translation can play in disaster prevention and management and to make the case for increased attention to language translation in crisis communication.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on literature relating to disaster management to suggest that translation is a perennial issue in crisis communication.
Findings
Although communication with multicultural and multilinguistic communities is seen as being in urgent need of attention, the authors find that the role of translation in enabling this is underestimated, if not unrecognized.
Originality/value
This paper raises awareness of the need for urgent attention to be given by scholars and practitioners to the role of translation in crisis communication.
... awareness) and levels of disaster preparedness have been shown to differ significantly based on ethnicity and cultural differences [11,12]. Past research has shown that people from some ethnic backgrounds are often at increased risk in a disaster situation [13][14][15] due to a number of inter-related factors such as: language barriers, leading to linguistic and social isolation [16]; cultural factors, leading to differing perceptions and understanding of disaster risk [17]; lack of acclimatisation to local environmental conditions; low literacy rates limiting access to disaster warnings and a distrust of warning messages; distrust of government or people within formal governance structures related to disaster planning and management; and reliance on informal sources of information [7]. ...
Modern societies are increasingly a melting pot of people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds which needs to be taken into consideration in disaster planning. People from different ethnic and language backgrounds are sometimes more vulnerable in a disaster due to a number of challenges including language
barriers, cultural perceptions, social isolation, poor assimilation with the local community and distrust of authorities. The level of disaster preparedness differs significantly at a household level, yet there is little understanding of how an individual's attributes such as age, ethnicity, language skills and gender, influences and sustains the level of disaster preparedness. Past research has explored one or more of these attributes, but the relationship between ‘ethnicity’, ‘language skills’ and disaster preparedness is least understood. To address this
gap, this paper investigates how an individual's ethnicity and language skills influence their levels of disaster preparedness. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 180 residents from a variety of ethnic and language backgrounds in Logan City, a local government area in Australia. The survey results were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis, and suggest that ‘ethnicity’ and ‘English Language skills’, accounted for significant variations in levels of disaster preparedness in the case study location. The findings suggest that policy makers need to give due consideration to how different ethnic groups understand and prepare for disasters, and to design disaster management and communication plans that cater for different language ability.
... Across minority communities, gatekeepers can act as the primary or only linguistic link, translating and interpreting disaster information. Young people in particular can fulfil this bridging role due to their linguistic capital and digital literacies, acting as important cultural brokers and as a vital resource that links decision makers with networks and contributes to resilience (Marlowe and Bogen 2015). These gatekeepers are not neutral agents in the flow of information, however, as information is then filtered for relevance and passed on only when trusted (Shepherd and van Vuuren 2014). ...
In urban environments characterized by rich diversity across language, migration status, demographic profiles, and usage of different forms of media, there can be significant challenges to ensuring that particular disaster risk reduction (DRR) communications reach those potentially affected. This article presents a study with 20 Pacific Island community leaders and connectors about their communities’ perspectives and anticipated responses to natural hazards in Auckland, New Zealand. Home to the largest population of Pacific people in the world, Auckland provides the basis for understanding the complexities of delivering disaster information across numerous community groups. The rich cultural and linguistic backgrounds of multiple Pacific communities living in this city highlight the need to consider the complexities of disaster messaging related to natural hazards. In particular, the article forwards the importance of incorporating the guiding concepts of reach, relevance, receptiveness, and relationships into a DRR approach with culturally and linguistically diverse groups. These concepts are presented as an embedded guiding framework that can helpfully inform disaster communication.
... Children and young people are also good at analysing and communicating risk (Mitchell et al. 2008), sharing and contextualizing knowledge, building credibility and trust, and persuading others to take action (using media, theatre, concerts, etc. Marlowe and Bogen (2015) have provided evidence of how young people from refugee backgrounds acted as cultural brokers and mediators during the Canterbury earthquakes in New Zealand, ensuring their respective communities had access to disaster-related information and that this information was properly translated and interpreted. ...
... There the imperative to help in the midst of hurt is an ever-present force. Some researchers have called for the use of culture brokers to connect research insights to practitioner needs (Browne 2015;Marlowe and Bogen 2015) specifically in disaster settings. Other bridging efforts specific to disaster fields include recruiting practitioners to teach college classes on the side. ...
Academic-practitioner divides in disaster management and research can be persistent and pernicious, bearing consequences for disaster survivors and future affected populations. The gap between disaster professionals and academic researchers is often treated as an unavoidable structural problem or a neutral accident of professional silos and circumstance. We suggest that these gaps are not neutral, and that they can and must be overcome. With hundreds of millions of people affected by disaster each year and recovery costs skyrocketing, there is urgency in connecting researcher and practitioner knowledges to avoid expensive mistakes and most importantly, to decrease human suffering. Yet the difficulties that US academic anthropologists and practitioners experienced in their efforts to collaborate became evident in a cross-sector National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded workshop on the relevance of culture in disaster work. We suggest and illustrate how more systematic cross-field communication can be operationalized through engaging in an ongoing and relational process of bridging. Such a process can offer long-term benefits to the people and institutions involved, dramatically enhance the science of disaster management, and help reduce the social and material costs of disaster impacts.
... The focus is on their perceived social vulnerabilities and resilience to these disasters, which happened in two geographically distinct places within the same year. Previous research has found that linguistic minority immigrants and refugees are generally socially vulnerable on account of their position of relative deprivation compared to majority groups (see, for example, [13,15,22,29]). This study explores some common features of these groups -findings that previous context-and disaster-specific case studies, despite their rich descriptions, do not offer. The authors' personal connections and charitable activities in these two disasters enabled this unique comparative study. ...
This sociological study explores how immigrants and refugees, many of whom are linguistic minorities, experienced the 2010-2011 disasters in Canterbury (New Zealand) and Tohoku (Japan). The focus is on their perceived social vulnerabilities and resilience to disasters. Previous research has found that linguistic minority immigrants and refugees are socially vulnerable as they occupy a position of relative deprivation compared to majority groups. However, findings drawn from in-depth interviews demonstrate the fluid, complex and contextual nature of social vulnerabilities in disasters, suggesting that people may be simultaneously vulnerable and resilient. The current disaster resilience paradigm can be misleading as it suggests that some of the socially vulnerable may be naturally disaster resilient. This study, utilizing key-informant interviews drawn from snowball sampling, suggests that they can be resilient partly because of the everyday inequalities that already confront them, and because of their previous experiences of disasters. Wars, conflicts, displacement and everyday hardships have given them “earned strength” and made them disaster resilient. Employing Bourdieu’s theoretical notions of capital, this study demonstrates how these victims were active social agents in these disasters, using a variety of resources (capitals) to cope with them. In-depth analysis of their individual and collective experiences can help disaster researchers to re-conceptualize the social vulnerability approach and disaster resilience thinking. Further, examples of the ways in which they individually and collectively coped with disasters can provide practical knowledge to help researchers, practitioners and policymakers develop more effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies.
... The focus is on their perceived social vulnerabilities and resilience to these disasters, which happened in two geographically distinct places within the same year. Previous research has found that linguistic minority immigrants and refugees are generally socially vulnerable on account of their position of relative deprivation compared to majority groups (see, for example, Donner & Rodríguez, 2008;Enarson, 2007;Koike, 2011;Marlowe & Bogen, 2014). This study explores some common features of these groups -findings that previous context-and disaster-specific case studies, despite their rich descriptions, do not offer. ...
This article explores how immigrants and refugees, who are linguistic minorities, experienced the 2010–2011 disasters in Canterbury, New Zealand and Tohoku, Japan. The focus is on their perceived social vulnerabilities and resilience to disasters. Previous research has found that linguistic minority immigrants and refugees are socially vulnerable as they occupy a position of relative deprivation compared to majority groups. However, findings drawn from in-depth interviews demonstrate the fluid, complex and contextual nature of social vulnerabilities in disasters, suggesting that people may be simultaneously vulnerable and resilient. Their resilience arises partly from the everyday inequalities that they already confront, and partly because of previous experiences of disasters. Wars, conflicts, displacement and everyday hardships have given them “earned strength”. We supplement this concept with work on social capital to help disaster researchers re-conceptualize both the social vulnerability approach and its connections to disaster resilience thinking.
This study examines the current state of disaster prevention literacy research, focusing primarily on Japan. First, we review global research trends on disaster and literacy and Japanese studies on disaster prevention literacy, focusing on bibliometric analyses. Second, we explore the fundamental concept of disaster prevention literacy that originated in Japan. Finally, we qualitatively discuss features and challenges of disaster prevention literacy research, highlighting key research papers in Japan. In conclusion, we argue that the concept of disaster prevention literacy is not only crucial for enhancing educational materials for disaster risk reduction (DRR) programs and outreach activities related to scientific research such as seismology and volcanology, but is also increasingly regarded as a conceptual platform for co-creating DRR, bridging the existing gaps between natural and social sciences, and scientific and local knowledge involving the society.
Forcibly displaced people are at the forefront of climate emergencies worldwide. This article reviews the growing literature on climate risks for displaced populations to synthesize knowledge, highlight gaps, and develop a theory-driven research agenda. Our synthesis shows that displaced populations are disproportionately at risk of being negatively impacted by climate hazards, due to their high sensitivity, limited adaptive capacities, and, in some cases, heightened exposure. Most studies focus on Southern Asia with a paucity of studies on climate-vulnerable refugee-hosting states in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Moreover, the literature heavily relies on case studies, which impedes the generalizability and comparability of findings. We argue for an inclusive and comprehensive climate risk research agenda that systematically maps the exposure of displaced populations to climate hazards, provides theory-driven research on how climate sensitivities and adaptive capacities shape their vulnerabilities, and applies comparative research, including host community populations.
This article examines the effects of the February 6 earthquake on Syrian students in Türkiye. After experiencing forced migration and the quake in childhood, these students exhibited multiple characteristics of social vulnerability. Therefore, the study characterises their situation as a complex emergency. This study examines the impact of school access on students’ vulnerability, normalisation process, and resilience. As this study focuses on multiple situations, it adheres to the qualitative research tradition and adopts a case study design. Findings from in-depth interviews with 18 Syrian middle and high school students in Gaziantep province revealed that the refugee group is socially vulnerable because of their relative deprivation compared to the residents. According to the results of the study, the adverse effects of the earthquake combined with the forced migration experience deepened the social vulnerability of refugee children. The results also show that access to school is critical for supporting children’s psychological well-being and their capacity to move away from vulnerability, normalisation, and resilience. This was achieved by supporting their social capital network, which refers to the resources and support systems that they could access through their school community. This study found that proactive and long-term efforts to improve conditions for groups with multiple social vulnerabilities positively impact postdisaster recovery by supporting community resilience against devastating natural disasters.
This chapter draws on two projects that recorded the earthquake experiences of residents in different parts of Ōtautahi Christchurch and in a range of life circumstances. One of these projects contacted people interviewed in 2012 and asked them to retell their stories in 2019 and 2020. Reflections on intensified social connectedness following the Canterbury earthquake sequence are considered alongside narrators’ awareness of the diverse impacts of the quakes and disruptions to collectivity as differences between residents intensified. Residents tended to see others as “worse off’ and offered stories that emphasised their resourcefulness at a unique time in the history of their city. Theorising about communitas in the context of disasters informs analysis of these vignettes of quake experiences.
The legacies of mechanistic and scientific approaches towards community resilience are increasingly challenged for lacking insight and nuance. They fail to understand the complexities of social organisation, community dynamics and patterns of power and politics. While generally conceptualised as the ability of a system/community to re-spond to, cope with and recover from a particular hazard, communities in Ōtautahi Christchurch have needed to be resilient for an extended period of time to respond to multiple (natural and human-induced) hazards. We explore how community resilience has been operationalised, resisted and re-worked in the recovery from the Canterbury earthquake sequence. We explore these themes in the context of an unfolding and compounding landscape of crises. To explore these themes, we seek to both recon-ceptualise and provide a critical discussion of the overly popular concept of communi-ty resilience.
Annotation of literature on Urban Refugee Management in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Building on social learning theory and employing a case-study approach this paper set out to explore the degree and nature of boundary interactions taking place between earthquake scientists and humanitarian-development non-governmental organisations as two stakeholders in disaster risk reduction. Framing boundary work(BW) as an inclusive process of active participation between social worlds, it draws on qualitative interview data to develop and analytically employ a boundary working typology to map the social mobility of earthquake scientists and NGO practitioners across Community of Practice boundaries. While the analysis identifies a number of individuals to be socially interacting in modes of boundary learning fitting of the typology, it uncovers additional boundary processes including varying efforts to manage community boundaries. It finds one-off encounters marked by transfers of explicit information to present the dominant form of engagement and flags a number of challenges associated with maintaining more socially-rich boundary learning interactions. Personal boundary relationships prove of critical importance and the potential for gatekeeping individuals and institutions to act in a supportive capacity is highlighted. Aiming to bring a richer level of analysis to the complexity of boundary processes taking place the paper presents a transferable tool with the utility to aid self-reflection in attempting to navigate the boundary landscape while allowing funders to gain a greater appreciation of the many forms BW can take in order to better support it.
Focused on material design and self-reflective practices, this article discusses a Crisis Translation Training pitched at master-level translation and interpreting students, developed within the research activities carried out for the INTERACT International Crisis Translation Network. The course was designed to enable them to develop a broader skillset in support of multilingual crisis settings. The learning objectives underpinning the materials address training lacunae in enabling linguists to be involved in relief operations (Federici, 2016; O’Brien, 2016). The authors perceive the complementary skills as crucial in the development of language mediation services assisting linguists operating in such zones of liminality as are crisis settings. Multilingual communication in crisis includes professional forms of translation, signing, and interpreting, as well as forms of intercultural mediation, and social work (Drugan, 2017). Emergencies and prolonged crises have an impact on the communicative dynamics among international relief operators, local institutions, and crisis-affected populations. The authors developed training materials to prepare students to work in crisis settings by harnessing their language competences in crisis translation as a form of community translation (Taibi and Ozolins, 2016). Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities often need support in language combinations that rarely match commercially viable combinations (Federici and Cadwell, 2018; Shackleton, 2018). This article critically reviews non-language specific Crisis Translation Training, delivered in three iterations across two sites. Reporting on the first phases of the process of material design and enhancement, the article reflects on how issues in delivery, emerging findings regarding the authentic needs of mostly untrained translators, and different pathways of delivery shaped the re-definition of the initial learning objectives and pushed towards a translator trainer approach that would suit a range of new contexts of language mediation.
The complexities of critical decision making processes for Hispanic/Latino immigrant families concerning whether to shelter in place or evacuate preceding hurricanes along the southern coastal region of the continental United States are explored. Hispanic/Latino immigrant families in the U.S., particularly migrant workers, may experience obstacles of language, social vulnerabilities, information dissemination, distrust of authorities, and contextual barriers. Historical perspectives and lessons learned from previous disaster preparation efforts suggest a more inclusive infrastructure at the local, community, regional, state and national levels through coordinated efforts to enhance existing meso and macro-level practice and procedures supporting health and safety of Hispanic/Latino families in times of disaster.
The image we have of refugees is one of displacement - from their homes, families and countries - and yet, refugee settlement is increasingly becoming an experience of living simultaneously in places both proximate and distant, as people navigate and transcend international borders in numerous and novel ways. At the same time, border regimes remain central in defining the possibilities and constraints of meaningful settlement. This book examines the implications of 'belonging' in numerous places as increased mobilities and digital access create new global connectedness in uneven and unexpected ways. Belonging and Transnational Refugee Settlement positions refugee settlement as an ongoing transnational experience and identifies the importance of multiple belongings through several case studies based on original research in Australia and New Zealand, as well as at sites in the US, Canada and the UK. Demonstrating the interplay between everyday and extraordinary experiences and broadening the dominant refugee discourses, this book critiques the notion that meaningful settlement necessarily occurs in 'local' places. The author focuses on the extraordinary events of trauma and disasters alongside the everyday lives of refugees undertaking settlement, to provide a conceptual framework that embraces and honours the complexities of working with the 'trauma story' and identifies approaches to see beyond it. This book will appeal to those with an interest in migration and diaspora studies, human geography and sociology.
This publication presents experiences from researchers and practitioners from a variety of geographical contexts on how they have been included and have participated in disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery activities. It aims to highlight the importance and benefits of, as well as options for, integrating migrants into decision-making, policy-setting and implementation of disaster risk reduction initiatives. In today’s increasingly globalized and mobile societies, internal and international migrants, refugees and asylum seekers represent a significant share of the population of cities and countries.
This publication builds upon the knowledge and experiences gathered through the Migrants In Countries In Crisis (MICIC) Initiative, a global state-led process for which IOM has been serving as Secretariat, and the Council of Europe’s EUR-OPA programme on “Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of major risks prevention and management”.
Migrants’ vulnerability to natural and man-made hazards, violence and conflict is shaped by barriers to their access to resources, information, services and opportunities. This manual aims to provide information on why it is important to address these barriers, and how to roll out measures that can help do so. The manual is based on a review of existing literature and of practices and lessons learned by a variety of actors (governmental and non-governmental) that have worked in order to improve their capacity to reach out to, assist and protect migrants before, during and after crises, as well as to improve migrants' ability to protect themselves and support their community in the face of emergencies.
Purpose
– The three case studies reported in this paper are drawn from a wider project in which schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, were invited to tell the stories of their experiences of the 2010/2011 earthquakes. The purpose of this paper is to capture the stories for the schools, their communities and for New Zealand's historical record.
Design/methodology/approach
– The approach taken was qualitative and participatory. Each school had control over their project design and implementation. The researchers were partners and facilitators in assisting each school to reach its goal. In these three case studies approximately 100 participants including principals, teachers, students and families were engaged in generating data to create tangible and long-lasting end products.
Findings
– The two themes from the data highlighted in this paper are: first, the importance of providing emotional processing opportunities for children without severe post-trauma symptoms to support their recovery and second, the ways in which children can be engaged and given a voice in research that concerns them.
Originality/value
– The paper contributes to the wider collection of research on and about the Canterbury earthquakes by giving voice to children and highlighting the role of schools in post-disaster response and recovery. The “continuum of engagement” described here is a new and original model.
Internationally, enhancing community resilience is considered key to disaster management. Factors that affect community resilience from a community perspective are explored across six communities. The research occurred following a series of devastating earthquakes in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Results show that connected communities with pre-existing community infrastructure (e.g. community and tribal organisations, local leaders) found it easier to adapt after the earthquakes. Existing hardship was exacerbated by disaster. The research sheds light on how to foster resilient communities and the importance of doing this because resilient communities cope better with, and recover faster from, crises. However, communities need to be sufficiently resourced to carry out their vital role.
This paper incorporates peer researchers from refugee backgrounds to deconstruct their experiences of conducting interviews and focus groups with refugee communities in a post-disaster environment in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The associated dynamics illustrate the contextual intricacies of recruitment, building relationships, the politics of interpreting and engaging with people’s lived experiences in respectful and safe ways. The peer researchers’ experiences highlight several methodological and ethical complexities to critically examine the role of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ as a continuum when working in post-disaster contexts with culturally and linguistically diverse populations.
What does it mean to become 'at home' in a settlement context while at the same time remaining connected to global networks? And what does this tell us about how information and communication technologies (ICTs) are transforming the experiences and opportunities of young people in a settlement context? These are some of the key questions underpinning Home Lands, a digital media project that explored the proposition that, if resettled refugee young people are able to maintain their connections to family and friends around the world, then this might enhance their sense of being at home in Melbourne. Analysing films and photographs produced during the programme by Karen Burmese youth, we describe three articulations of belonging that we have called settlement 'escapes'. We demonstrate how ICTs can open up new possibilities for becoming at home in a new country and as a citizen of a more global, deterritorialized world. Our research demonstrates that settlement in a networked world is fundamentally tied to the resources and opportunities afforded to youth in making a life in their new country both on-line and off-line.
Resettled refugees need a network of relationships to ensure they can live meaningful lives in New
Zealand. These relationships are complex and exist between individuals and communities at local and
national levels. Conceptualised as social capital, these relationships provide the invisible glue holding
society together. Drawing on data from a research project on the Somali community in Auckland, this
paper reflects on contemporary developments within the refugee sector and highlights the ways in
which social capital provides further insight into the experiences of refugee integration at a local level
in New Zealand.
This article discusses the family dynamics of South Sudanese parents who arrived in New Zealand as quota refugees. It investigates how they experience parenting in relation to language barriers, gender roles, and cultural differences in raising children. The article reports on in-depth interviews with four solo mothers and two married fathers during which participants commonly expressed tensions between finding a workable relationship between traditional parenting and current expectations in New Zealand. This study identifies some potential pathways for working with refugee families who are raising children in resettlement contexts and highlights several key considerations concerning settlement support and gender.
Purpose
– This research project examined resettled refugees’ perspectives on the Canterbury Earthquakes to better understand the organisational implications for disaster preparedness and response with culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
Design/methodology/approach
– The method of data collection for this exploratory pilot study involved conducting semi-structured focus group discussions during January 2012 with the Bhutanese, Afghani and Ethiopian communities. The project was conducted in partnership with Refugee Services Aotearoa which is New Zealand's primary refugee resettlement organisation.
Findings
– The participant comments identify the importance of local ethnic community responses to a natural disaster. The need for a pre-established meeting centre(s) and community liaisons with key support organisations was highlighted as vital. Central to recovery is how organisations can work alongside refugee communities in disaster preparedness and response opportunities.
Originality/value
– The paper offers insight into the additional considerations of disaster risk reduction strategies with refugee background communities – a group that is relatively under-researched in disaster contexts.
Understanding how people interpret risks and choose actions based on their interpretations is vital to any strategy for disaster reduction. We review relevant literature with the aim of developing a conceptual framework to guide future research in this area. We stress that risks in the context of natural hazards always involve interactions between natural (physical) and human (behavioural) factors. Decision-making under conditions of uncertainty is inadequately described by traditional models of 'rational choice'. Instead, attention needs to be paid to how people's interpretations of risks are shaped by their own experience, personal feelings and values, cultural beliefs and interpersonal and societal dynamics. Furthermore, access to information and capacity for self-protection are typically distributed unevenly within populations. Hence trust is a critical moderator of the effectiveness of any policy for risk communication and public engagement.
Disaster management is dominated by top-down relief efforts that assume children and youth are passive victims with no role in communicating risks or preventing and responding to disasters. This article challenges these assumptions and critically assesses prevailing theoretical models of risk communication using two case studies that highlight the unique needs and potential roles of children and youth as resources or receivers of disaster management information. These studies in El Salvador and New Orleans used various participatory and qualitative techniques with young people, parents and policy makers. The findings suggest that the roles of children and youth as potential informants within informal and formal risk communication networks have been significantly underestimated, but their positive role in disaster risk reduction must also be seen in light of its possible burdens.
This research note documents a recent experience conducted in the Philippines and that consisted in using participatory mapping to raise disaster risk awareness among the youth. Maps are cheap, easy to reproduce and help in materializing hazard, vulnerability and risk, and thus allow the youth to concretely appraise disaster risk in their immediate environment. This is particularly important among marginalized communities. The next step is hence to scale up the activity to the level of disaster risk reduction within schools and colleges.
An estimated 200 million children worldwide experience various forms of disability. This critical review extrapolates from existing literature in 2 distinct areas of scholarship: one on individuals with disabilities in disaster, and the other on children in disaster. The extant literature suggests that various factors may contribute to the physical, psychological, and educational vulnerability of children with disabilities in disaster, including higher poverty rates, elevated risk exposure, greater vulnerability to traumatic loss or separation from caregivers, more strain on parents, and poor postdisaster outcomes, unless medical, familial, social, and educational protections are in place and vital social networks are quickly reestablished. Future research needs are outlined in the conclusion.
This article examines the debate between key theories of immigrant assimilation by exploring the effect of acculturation types - dissonant, consonant, and selective - on socioeconomic outcomes in young adulthood. Drawing on survey data from the Immigrant Second Generation in Metropolitan New York, we show that while all three types occur, dissonant acculturation is the exception, not the norm, among second generation young adults. Our results also suggest that neither the type of acculturation nor the level of ethnic embeddedness can account for the variation in mobility patterns both across and within second generation groups. These findings lead us to question assumptions about the protective effect of selective acculturation and the negative effect of dissonant acculturation.
This paper reports on changing inter-generational relations among long-term Liberian refugees in the Buduburam settlement
camp in Ghana. Four months of fieldwork were conducted in the settlement, using a range of qualitative methods to elicit emic
understandings of the nature and causes of changes in inter-generational relations: focus groups, individual interviews, participant
observation, and diary-keeping by refugees. Various aspects of the refugee experience, in particular the strategies used by young
people to cope with long-term livelihood insecurity, are seen by camp inhabitants to have led to a reconfiguration of relationships
between older and younger people and even to the blurring of generational categories. There is a powerful discourse linking
economic impotence of older people with the erosion of inter-generational relations of authority and deference. This is seen to
have encouraged both a devaluation of old age and experience within the community and an increase in tensions between young
and old. In response, some older people choose to transgress generational boundaries by adopting aspects of youth culture and
style, while younger people express considerable ambivalence about their own ability to make the transition from youth to
adulthood. We argue that the camp and policy context of Buduburam diminishes the ability of refugees to become full social
and economic adults in their own terms, as well as pushing young people in particular into risky livelihoods strategies. This
has important implications for the ability of everyone, both young and old, to cope with the demands of refugee life.
Social workers who are new to working with young people who are refugees may feel overwhelmed, out of their depth and inclined to defer to the powerful psychiatric profession. Arguing a role for social work engagement with young people as they face the personal, social, communal, cultural, political and economic challenges of settlement, this paper proposes a reflexive, deconstructive approach within a broadly ecological model. All settlement tasks require mediation through the powerful discourse (language, values, constructs, social practices) of both the young person's own community and those of the new context. Creating spaces where young people can identify and negotiate the forces vying to shape them underpins and complements the urgent task of combating racism and ethnocentricity in Australian institutions. Yes Yes
In this paper we synthesise past disaster research that addresses issues of race and ethnicity in the United States. Using an eight-stage typology to organise the findings, this literature review presents the results from a wide range of studies. The synthesis shows how various racial and ethnic groups perceive natural hazard risks and respond to warnings, how groups may be differentially affected, both physically and psychologically, and how disaster effects vary by race and ethnicity during the periods of emergency response, recovery and reconstruction. We show that studies have important findings, many illustrating that racial and ethnic communities in the US are more vulnerable to natural disasters, due to factors such as language, housing patterns, building construction, community isolation and cultural insensitivities. By presenting these studies together, we are able to witness patterns of racial and ethnic inequalities that may be more difficult to see or interpret in individual studies that take place in one specific time and place. We conclude the review with policy and research recommendations.
We studied the experience of Hurricane Katrina evacuees to better understand factors influencing evacuation decisions in impoverished, mainly minority communities that were most severely affected by the disaster.
We performed qualitative interviews with 58 randomly selected evacuees living in Houston's major evacuation centers from September 9 to 12, 2005. Transcripts were content analyzed using grounded theory methodology.
Participants were mainly African American, had low incomes, and were from New Orleans. Participants' strong ties to extended family, friends, and community groups influenced other factors affecting evacuation, including transportation, access to shelter, and perception of evacuation messages. These social connections cut both ways, which facilitated and hindered evacuation decisions.
Effective disaster plans must account for the specific obstacles encountered by vulnerable and minority communities. Removing the more apparent obstacles of shelter and transportation will likely be insufficient for improving disaster plans for impoverished, minority communities. The important influence of extended families and social networks demand better community-based communication and preparation strategies.
This paper will focus on the role for social work intervention with people and communities affected by three major earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand. Since the first and subsequent earthquakes in September 2010 and February and June 2011, non-government agencies in Christchurch and the greater Canterbury region have been key providers of immediate crisis support. Whilst this type of service provision is not new territory for the social services, the impetus of the need and long-term nature of the earthquake recovery necessitates an expansive,responsive and empowering practice approach to facilitate ongoing sustainable development in the most affected communities. In consideration of the principles of sustainable development and Amartya Sen’s Capabilities Approach (Seng, 1999), this article will examine ways of working with people beyond alleviating immediate problems towards restoring personal well-being, taking agency, exercising rights, connecting with others and becoming directly involved in the rebuild of Christchurch city and neighbourhood communities. These considerations provide an argument for expanding the scope of social work by reconceptualising its ecological framework and the work of individual and social change to respond to the needs of the affected people of Christchurch.
The role of belonging in post-disaster environments remains an under-theorised concept, particularly regarding refugee populations.
This paper presents a qualitative study with 101 refugee-background participants from varying communities living in Christchurch,
New Zealand, about their perspectives and responses to the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010–11. Participants spoke of how a
sense of belonging as individuals and as a wider community was important in the recovery effort, and highlighted the multiple
ways in which they understood this concept. Their comments demonstrate how belonging can have contextual, chronological and
gendered dimensions that can help inform effective and resonant disaster responses with culturally and linguistically diverse
populations. This analysis also illustrates how the participants' perspectives of belonging shifted over time, and discusses
the corresponding role of social work in supporting post-disaster recovery through the concepts of civic, ethno and ethnic-based
belonging.
Social science research on disasters began in the early twentieth century with the publication of Samuel Henry Prince's sociology doctoral dissertation on the 1917 Halifax explosion (Prince 1920). However, disaster research did not begin to coalesce as a field until pioneering research was carried out by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Opinion Research Center in the early 1950s, as research teams were sent into the field to collect data on individual, group, and organizational responses to disasters (see Fritz and Marks 1954). The Disaster Research Center, established in 1963 at the Ohio State University and now located at the University of Delaware, continued the practice of conducting "quick-response" studies following major disasters, with an emphasis on organizational and community response. Over subsequent decades, other research centers were established both nationally and internationally. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 generated additional interest in disaster research, as questions were raised concerning a range of topics, including behavioral, psychological, and social-psychological responses to terrorism. Classic sociological research on disasters emphasized the pro-social and adaptive dimensions of disaster-related behavior. Studies consistently documented such patterns as widespread helping behavior among community residents, the emergence of new groups focusing on victim and community needs, increases in social cohesion, the convergence of volunteers and material resources into disaster areas, and the suspension of community conflicts as community residents and public and private-sector organizations put aside their pre-disaster agendas in the interest of overcoming disaster-induced challenges. Disasters were framed in the literature as "consensus" crises and contrasted with "conflict" crises such as riots. Outcomes following disasters include the emergence of "therapeutic communities" that support victims and maintain high community morale. Therapeutic communities help to cushion the negative psychological consequences of disasters, and as a result, negative psycho-social reactions tend to be short-lived following disasters (see Fritz 1961; Barton 1969; Dynes 1970; Stallings and Quarantelli 1985; Drabek 1986). Ongoing research on disasters provides additional support for these earlier empirical findings. At the same time, it has become increasingly evident that earlier consensus-oriented perspectives paid insufficient attention to the diverse ways in which individuals, groups, and communities experience disasters. In contrast with classic studies, newer research has emphasized those diverse experiences. Research has also shown how disaster-related experiences are shaped in important ways by the same dimensions of stratification and inequality that influence people's lives during non-disaster times. Disaster scholarship now recognizes that factors such as wealth and poverty, race and ethnicity, gender and age influence vulnerability to hazards, disaster victimization, and disaster recovery outcomes (Blaikie et al. 1994; Peacock, Morrow, and Gladwin 1997; Bolin and Stanford 1998; Fothergill 1998). As a consequence of these developments, disasters are no longer seen as producing common or typical challenges for at-risk populations. While morale and cohesiveness may undoubtedly be high within some groups within a disaster-stricken community, other groups may be excluded. Postdisaster experiences that are therapeutic for some may be corrosive for others. Some groups may be able to return to their pre-disaster status with relatively difficulty, while others may never fully recover. And to a greater degree than has been recognized before, disasters may become arenas not only for consensus-based social action but also for contentious intergroup interactions. Measures taken to deal with disasters may be welcomed by some groups but denounced by others. Relief programs may benefit some within the population while disadvantaging others Research also shows that groups are differentially vulnerable and also differentially resilient in the face of disasters, depending upon their position in the stratification system. The sections that follow discuss recent advances in the study of the social factors that affect disaster vulnerability and that contribute to resilience in the face of disasters. Using examples from both Hurricane Katrina and other U.S. disasters, these discussions illustrate how large-scale social trends, structural forces, and group characteristics influence preparedness for, responses to, and recovery from disasters. A key point made in these discussions is that while Hurricane Katrina revealed the devastating consequences of social inequality more vividly than any recent U.S. disaster, Katrina has a great deal in common with other disasters the nation has experienced. One implication of these findings is that diverse patterns of vulnerability and resilience must be taken into consideration both in programs that provide disaster aid and in overall planning frameworks for disaster loss reduction. Copyright
Following the recent major Christchurch earthquakes, a huge amount of work has been carried out by a range of volunteers and professionals throughout the Canterbury area. We were able to make a small contribution these initiatives. Our team had the privilege of being involved in a special project offering a series of workshops to frontline workers in Christchurch, based on work we delivered to affected communities in Samoa after the 2009 tsunami. In March and April 2011 we delivered 14 workshops in Christchurch for a range of helping professionals and volunteers. Those attending were private practitioners as well as volunteers and staff personnel from a broad range of NGO's, including social service agencies, schools, health centres, local churches, refugee and migrant services, and Salvation Army volunteers. A total of 790 participants attended the 14 workshops. In this paper we first present some general principles and cautions regarding psychological support following the trauma of disaster. Next, our work in Samoa will be presented, noting the importance of avoiding re-traumatising and focusing on building the resilience of those affected. Some of the innovative approach with families and children in Samoa will be summarised, focusing on some principles for guiding post disaster intervention and a particularly helpful therapeutic technique called double listening. Finally we explain how this experience was translated into training in Christchurch: the workshop objectives will be identified, then some of the content of the workshop will be presented, bearing in mind that a 3-hour workshop is being outlined within the context of a brief paper. Finally a brief summary of the outcomes of the workshops will be outlined.
This paper outlines some Australian examples of working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities during and prior to emergency situations. These examples reinforce the message relating to the importance of planning and prior knowledge, communication and a strategic approach involving partnerships, all of which take into account the different cultures and languages that are in a community'. This sentiment is reinforced in a newly published document titled "Guidelines for Emergency Managers working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities". These guidelines are based on the principle of inclusiveness, an approach that is sensitive to the differences and the similarities in our communities. The guidelines were written in an inclusive manner, with diverse representation giving input and a consultative process of development. They signify the continuing development of strategies for emergency managers to ensure the well being of all members of our communities.
Following the September 2010 and February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes the Stronger Canterbury Strategic Planning Framework was developed by the National Psychosocial Response Subgroup with support from the Psychosocial Recovery Advisory Group under the auspices of the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the National Health Emergency Plan (Ministry of Health, 2007, p.18). The Framework’s purpose was to provide an overarching context for the Christchurch Psychosocial Response Subgroup as well as applicable Community Wellbeing subgroups to assist in planning the psychosocial recovery in response to the Canterbury earthquakes. Within the document two essential components to the psychosocial recovery for Canterbury are identified: individual recovery and wellbeing, and the building of community resilience while supporting psychosocial wellbeing. Implicit in the document is the notion that provided the right supports are in place, recovery will occur. This article argues the current pervasive neo-liberal perspective has hampered the ability of those supports to be fully realised. To begin, the strategic planning aims of addressing individual psychosocial wellbeing and community resilience will be defined in this review. Secondly, examples illustrating how the pervading neo-liberal perspective has contributed to the failure of the policy to assist community recovery will be discussed. Examples referring to the notions of rights, equality, social justice and the Treaty of Waitangi will be provided. To conclude, the slow pace of the recovery for Cantabrians has had, and continues to have, multiple implications for the social work community. It is over two years on from the first earthquake, and much of the population are still struggling to gain equilibrium. Social workers in Canterbury have been working tirelessly to improve outcomes for clients. It is suggested it is time social work as a national body advocates for the stakeholders to pay more attention to the original intent of the framework.
Despite employment being consistently identified as a key factor in successful refugee resettlement, people from refugee backgrounds in Aotearoa New Zealand are overrepresented in unemployment statistics. Of those who do gain employment, few secure work that is adequately remunerated and commensurate with the person's skills and qualifications. This paper explores whether the two recent government-driven initiatives, the welfare reforms and the New Zealand Refugee Resettlement Strategy, provide an opportunity to address these issues. Based on previous research, the authors identify the main employment barriers facing people from refugee backgrounds. They argue that while the welfare reforms and the Refugee Resettlement Strategy are underpinned by a desire to see more people in employment, for real change to occur, an integrated holistic approach is needed. This approach needs to include additional resourcing for government-funded specialist one-on-one employment programmes that are available in all regions where refugees are resettled. These programmes combined with access to fully funded English language tuition and work experience and internship opportunities would help reduce the barriers people from refugee backgrounds face when seeking employment.
This article draws from detailed qualitative case studies of five schools as they responded to the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand throughout 2010 and 2011. Three key themes emerged from a cross-case analysis. The first theme is the place of the school in a community's disaster response and recovery. The second is the leadership role of principals and teachers in disaster response and recovery. The final theme is how schools support the emotional recovery of staff and students. The article concludes with recommendations for wider recognition of the potential that schools hold for disaster response and recovery.
Purpose
– The three case studies reported in this paper are drawn from a wider project in which schools in Canterbury, New Zealand, were invited to tell the stories of their experiences of the 2010/2011 earthquakes. The purpose of this paper is to capture the stories for the schools, their communities and for New Zealand's historical record.
Design/methodology/approach
– The approach taken was qualitative and participatory. Each school had control over their project design and implementation. The researchers were partners and facilitators in assisting each school to reach its goal. In these three case studies approximately 100 participants including principals, teachers, students and families were engaged in generating data to create tangible and long-lasting end products.
Findings
– The two themes from the data highlighted in this paper are: first, the importance of providing emotional processing opportunities for children without severe post-trauma symptoms to support their recovery and second, the ways in which children can be engaged and given a voice in research that concerns them.
Originality/value
– The paper contributes to the wider collection of research on and about the Canterbury earthquakes by giving voice to children and highlighting the role of schools in post-disaster response and recovery. The “continuum of engagement” described here is a new and original model.
Immigration often results in changes in family dynamics and gender roles, the loss of social networks and cultural identity, and difficulties interpreting and negotiating a new legal system. Understanding the specific nature of these changes and how factors are interlinked is a challenge for researchers. We explored cultural values, practices and behaviors relating to the family dynamics that Arabic speaking migrants (Sudanese, Iraqi and Lebanese) are confronted with and how they negotiate them in their new Australian environment. This study used qualitative methodology involving seven focus group discussions (n = 64). Participants were purposively sampled from three metropolitan regions of Melbourne, Australia based on (1) geographic location, (2) country of birth, and (3) generation (parents vs. young people). Findings revealed a state of family disharmony characterised by three major themes: (1) parenting and youth freedom; (2) parents’ struggle to preserve cultural values; (3) changes in gender roles post-migration. This study demonstrates that family unity is a core value, a cultural framework through which decisions and the role of family members are determined, and a reference for support and negotiating post-migration experiences and challenges. However, Arabic speaking parents did not trust the legal system, with the perception that it was undermining and against family dynamics and values. Effective family interventions targeting this sub-population will need to incorporate support for parents and positive parenting programs and be built within an intergenerational framework to address an intergenerational acculturation gap.
The value of physical science in mitigating the effects of environmental hazards is well acknowledged. Less acknowledged are the cultural influences affecting adoption of disaster risk reduction strategies, that is what influence ‘culture’ has upon hazard and risk. This paper explores the need to consider ‘culture’ within disaster risk reduction and cross disciplinary boundaries through four key questions: (a) How relevant is ‘culture’ to disaster risk reduction? (b) How can we engage with different cultures? (c) How can local knowledge be accessed and utilized? (d) How can local and scientific knowledge be integrated for the benefit of disaster risk reduction? The questions are answered through drawing upon case study snapshots from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, USA and the Maldives that explore geological-related hazard phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis, and their effects within communities. Challenges and ways forward for ensuring the integration of cultural considerations into risk reduction and putting research into practice and practice into research are identified.
Many young people with refugee backgrounds struggle to develop positive social and cultural identities in their new settlement locations and often experience disadvantage and marginalization. Yet, recent developments in low cost, accessible Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) potentially provide new opportunities for them to seek their sources of identity and identification elsewhere – through family, peer and cultural connections that transcend the limitations of place. But do youth from refugee backgrounds take advantage of these opportunities for cultural renewal and reconstruction and, if they do, what are the consequences for their local and transnational identities and social networks? As more young people experience mobility – either forced or voluntary – in the course of their early lives, virtual interactions become an important domain of social and cultural practice. In this paper, I explore the mediating effects of digital communications for a small group of young people from refugee backgrounds who currently live in Melbourne but conduct their lives across the globe, in order to reflect on what these experiences suggest about a new set of possibilities for creating trans-local cultures.
This study investigated how former refugees now living in Christchurch (Canterbury Province, New Zealand) communities coped after the 4 September 2010 and subsequent earthquakes.
A systematic sample of one in three former refugees from five ethnic groupings (Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Ethiopia, Somalia and Bhutan) was selected from a list of 317 refugees provided by the Canterbury Refugee Council and invited to participate in the study. Seventy-two out of 105 potential participants completed a 26 item questionnaire regarding the impact of the quakes, their concerns and anxieties, coping strategies and social supports. The methodology was complicated by ongoing aftershocks, particularly that of 22 February 2011.
Three-quarters of participants reported that they had coped well, spirituality and religious practice being an important support for many, despite less then 20% receiving support from mainstream agencies. Most participants (72%) had not experienced a traumatic event or natural disaster before. Older participants and married couples with children were more likely to worry about the earthquakes and their impact than single individuals. There was a significant difference in the level of anxiety between males and females. Those who completed the questionnaire after the 22 February 2011 quake were more worried overall than those interviewed before this.
Overall, the former refugees reported they had coped well despite most of them not experiencing an earthquake before and few receiving support from statutory relief agencies. More engagement from local services is needed in order to build trust and cooperation between the refugee and local communities.
The changing demographic landscape of the United States calls for a reassessment of the societal impacts and consequences oJ so-called "natural" and technological disasters. An increasing trend towards greater demographic and socio-economic diversity (in part due to high rates of international immigration), combined with mounting disaster losses, have brought about a more serious focus among scholars on how changing population patterns shape the vulnerability and resiliency of social systems. Recent disasters, such as the Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) and Hurricane Katrina (2005), point to the differential impacts of disasters on certain communities, particularly those that do not have the necessary resources to cope with and recover from such events. Ihis paper interprets these impacts within the context of economic, cultural, and social capital, as well as broader human ecological forces. The paper also makes important contributions to the social science disaster research literature by examining population growth, composition, and distribution in the context of disaster risk and vulnerability. Population dynamics (e.g., population growth, migration, and urbanization) are perhaps one of the most important factors that have increased our exposure to disasters and have contributed to the devastating impacts of these events, as the case of Hurricane Katrina illustrates Nevertheless, the scientific literature exploring these issues is quite limited. We argue that if we fail to acknowledge and act on the mounting evidence regarding population composition, migration, inequality, and disaster vulnerability, we will continue to experience disasters with greater regularity and intensity.
In the decades since the terms 'vulnerability', 'capacity' and 'resilience' became popular in both the disaster and development literatures, through natural and social science discourses, the terms have been applied to many development- and disaster-related policies and have been the subject of much debate and interpretation amongst various schools of thought. An illustrative review of the use of these terms is given followed by a critique of the main discourses, especially regarding the development and disaster policy advantages and disadvantages. Recommendations are given at different scales for closing some of the gaps identified, especially regarding the policy usefulness of certain theoretical approaches. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
For young people with refugee backgrounds, establishing a sense of belonging to their family and community, and to their country of resettlement is essential for wellbeing. This paper describes the psychosocial factors associated with subjective health and wellbeing outcomes among a cohort of 97 refugee youth (aged 11-19) during their first three years in Melbourne, Australia. The findings reported here are drawn from the Good Starts Study, a longitudinal investigation of settlement and wellbeing among refugee youth conducted between 2004 and 2008. The overall aim of Good Starts was to identify the psychosocial factors that assist youth with refugee backgrounds in making a good start in their new country. A particular focus was on key transitions: from pre-arrival to Australia, from the language school to mainstream school, and from mainstream school to higher education or to the workforce. Good Starts used a mix of both method and theory from anthropology and social epidemiology. Using standardized measures of wellbeing and generalised estimating equations to model the predictors of wellbeing over time, this paper reports that key factors strongly associated with wellbeing outcomes are those that can be described as indicators of belonging - the most important being subjective social status in the broader Australian community, perceived discrimination and bullying. We argue that settlement specific policies and programs can ultimately be effective if embedded within a broader socially inclusive society - one that offers real opportunities for youth with refugee backgrounds to flourish.
The strengths perspective in social work practice continues to develop conceptually. The strengths-based approach to case management with people with severe mental illness is well established. More recently, there have been developments in strengths-based practice with other client groups and the emergence of strengths orientations in work with communities. To augment these developments, converging lines of thinking, research, and practice in areas such as developmental resilience, healing and wellness, and constructionist narrative and story have provided interesting supports and challenges to the strengths perspective. This article reviews some current thinking and research about using a strengths orientation and assesses conceptual endorsements and criticisms of the strengths perspective.
On risk and disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina
- Tierney
Understanding Emergency Management: A Dialogue Between Emergency Management Sector and CALD Communities
- B Spittles
- F Fozdar