Refugee children and families
An important function of this website is to direct members of the community to accurate and reliable information about child and adolescent trauma, loss and grief. We have provided some direct links below to articles and information relating to child and adolescent trauma, loss and grief and particularly relevant to professionals working with refugee families and communities.
We consider this a good starting point for members of the community to access information in this area.
Resources for practitioners
Refugees and asylum seekers: Supporting recovery from trauma
496.46 KB pdf
This resource, developed with Professor Louise Newman, focuses on the traumatic events and adversities that face refugees and asylum seekers from the point of fleeing their country through to resettlement in a new country. The resource discusses how these traumatic events may affect children and young people.
Resources for families and carers
Refugees and asylum seekers: supporting recovery from trauma
475.35 KB pdf
Globally around 24 million people are refugees or displaced persons fleeing war, conflict and discrimination. Around one third of these are children and adolescents, and 10% are less than 5 years of age. Infants and children are amongst the most vulnerable in situations of war and conflict.
Other resources
Assisting unaccompanied youth to integrate
Nathalie LummertForced Migration Review 40, August 2012With the right assistance and support, unaccompanied refugee youth can adapt and thrive in a new country while maintaining their cultural identity.
Challenging some assumptions about refugee youth
Christina Clark-KazakForced Migration Review 40, August 2012This article discusses the peer networks that young unaccompanied refugees develop.
Hints for healing: strengthening refugee children’s resilience
STARTTS, NSW
This quarterly e-zine focuses on various themes and is designed to strengthen knowledge and skills about needs of refugee students.
Mentoring for resettled youth
Lauren Markham
Forced Migration Review 40, August 2012
This article discusses the benefits that one to one mentoring can have for refugee youth resettling in new communities.
Putting adolescents and youth at the centre
Sarah Maguire
Forced Migration Review 40, August 2012
This article discusses the challenges that young refugee and displaced people face and the considerations that need to be taken when developing programs to assist them.
School's in for Refugees: Whole school guide to refugee readiness
Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc.
This guide aims to strengthen the capacity of school communities to promote a supportive school environment for students from refugee backgrounds and their families. The guide includes information on the impact of trauma on the development and wellbeing of the child.
Service Provision – Culturally and linguistically diverse families and children
Child Family Community Australia - AIFS
This webpage contains a number of resources and publications relating to working with refugee families.
The Working with Refugee Families Project
799.44 KB pdf
Australian Centre for Child Protection, University of South Australia
This report outlines the findings of a three stage research project designed to examine why recently arrived families from refugee backgrounds are presenting to the child protection system and to identify culturally appropriate strategies and models for intervention.
Working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) adolescents
Child Family Community Australia - AIFS
This page contains a compilation of reports, policy papers and other resources for professionals supporting CALD adolescents. It includes a section on trauma with resources to help recognise and respond to the long-term effects of torture and trauma among newly arrived young people, particularly refugees.
Links
Diversity Health Institute Australia
A central access point for Australian multicultural health services, resources, research and projects, training and events. Easy to find information regarding refugee children and adolescents.
Early Childhood Australia
This online resource for the early childhood field contains information and resources on working with children from refugee backgrounds, including the benefits of playgroups as protective environments for refugee children at risk of trauma.
Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT)
A network of Australia's eight specialist rehabilitation agencies that work with survivors of torture and trauma who have come to Australia from overseas. There is one FASSTT member agency in each state and territory in Australia.
Refugee Council of Australia
The national umbrella body for refugees and the organisations and individuals who support them.
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
Mental health information brochures and factsheets available to download in a number of community languages. Includes a family help kit for post-traumatic stress.