ORCID Profile
0000-0003-1823-983X
Current Organisations
University of South Australia
,
Flinders University
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-02-2023
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 13-03-2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-10-2021
Abstract: It is widely recognised that employment is vital in assisting young refugees’ integration into a new society. Drawing on psychosocial safety climate (PSC) theory, this research investigated the effect of organisational climate on young refugee workers’ mental health (psychological distress) through stressful social relational aspects of work (e.g., harassment, discrimination). Drawing on data from 635 young refugees aged between 15 and 26 in South Australia, 116 refugees with paid work were compared with 519 refugee students without work, and a s le of young workers from Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) data (n = 290). The results indicated that refugees with paid work had significantly lower psychological distress compared with refugees with no paid work, but more distress than other young Australian workers. With respect to workplace harassment and abuse, young refugee workers reported significantly more harassment due to their ongoing interaction and engagement with mainstream Australian workers compared with unemployed refugees. Harassment played a vital role in affecting psychological health in refugees (particularly) and other young workers. While refugee youth experienced harassment at work, overall, their experiences suggest that their younger age upon arrival enabled them to seek and find positive employment outcomes. Although PSC did not differ significantly between the employed groups, we found that it likely negatively influenced psychological distress through the mediating effects of harassment and abuse. Hence, fostering pathways to successful employment and creating safe work based on high PSC and less harassment are strongly recommended to improve refugees’ mental health and adaptation.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 28-04-2023
DOI: 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0285023
Abstract: Internationally, there is an urgent need to understand factors promoting successful settlement and integration of people with forced or voluntary migration experiences (i.e., refugee and non-refugee migrants). This paper provides a protocol of a mixed-methods investigation of contextual factors of successful settlement and service utilization of youth and their families, as young people could be at higher risk due to stressors associated with pre-migration trauma, post-migration settlement stressors, and adolescent development. This large-scale mixed-methods study will be conducted across three countries. A questionnaire survey will seek responses from 1200 youth aged 15–24 years residing in South Australia, Ontario, Canada, and California, United States of America. The qualitative component of the study will comprise 54 focus groups (324 participants) with youth and their parents/caregivers. The study design allows a range of important phenomena (e.g., different migration pathways and settlement countries) and key questions (e.g., regarding the intersection of migration, settlement, and wellbeing) to be addressed. It also allows for generalizability of findings to be tested across different communities and countries. Findings will support recommendations for policy and practice and may be generalized to advance research with youth and their families. This study is one of the largest, most comprehensive studies of youth settlement.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-02-2023
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.25954/EB6K-R455
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-01-2022
Abstract: Forced displacement of refugees, currently at record levels, leads to increased cultural ersity in many countries with benefits and challenges for in iduals, communities, and societies. Refugees often face significant stressors both pre- and post-migration, and hence are at increased risk of poor mental health and wellbeing. Children and adolescents make up a significant proportion of refugees globally, and hence mental health supports for these young people are crucial. Current mental health research often uses pathologized approaches that focus on trauma, although there is growing literature highlighting the importance of a sense of belonging and the reduction in discrimination and social exclusion, emphasizing strengths and agency of in iduals and communities. Resilience is often noted for its positive influence on mental health and wellbeing however, research regarding how mechanisms of resilience function is still developing. This study investigated mental health and wellbeing of refugee-background Australian youth to better understand the role and function of resilience. Findings suggest that intersecting social ecologies, such as those within family, school, or community networks, contribute to development of identity and a sense of belonging for youth, which together form a resilient system that provides resources for wellbeing. Adaptations of school policy and practice can support positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes by contributing to and developing resilient environments, such as through building connections to family, improving positive recognition of cultural identity for in iduals and across the whole school community, and actively working to minimize discrimination.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-07-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-01-2023
Abstract: Refugee resettlement significantly contributes to Australia’s migration programs, with recent policy directives prioritising rural resettlement. As a result, the cultural ersity of populations of several Australian rural towns has substantially expanded. Newcomers may encounter challenges becoming part of closed social networks and accessing the resources they need for a healthy life in resettlement. However, there are also benefits that stem from positive integration for newcomers and for receiving populations. As part of a larger study, which aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to successful resettlement in a rural setting, the objective of this paper was to show how social ties were important for participants’ health, both facilitating access to resources, including health services, and connecting people to health-promoting living conditions. In-depth in idual interviews with 44 participants from refugee communities originally from Africa and South-East Asia, settled in a rural South Australian town, were conducted. Participants were invited to the study through snowball s ling via known connections between the researchers and key people within the communities. Interview transcripts were analysed using framework thematic analysis. The findings demonstrate how participants drew on connections within their cultural communities, reflecting collectivist cultural values. These social ties were key to enabling access to resources for health. These included emotional resources, such as a sense of belonging, as well as physical and practical resources, including food, housing, and/or accessing services. Several participants were also working towards a career in the health industry. Populations from refugee communities in rural towns are growing, not only with the continuation of new arrivals to these towns, but also as the settled populations expand their families and communities. Effective health service provision in these locations needs to serve these growing communities, and there is scope for services to tap into community networks to assist with this.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 31-07-2019
DOI: 10.2196/12632
Abstract: Young people with refugee experiences are widely acknowledged as encountering multiple disadvantages that affect their school completion and retention, university entry, and subsequent employment. This paper discusses the rationale for and protocol of a mixed methods investigation focusing on improving education and employment outcomes among refugee background youth aged 15 to 24 years from three focus regions: the Middle East (Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria), South Asia (Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar/Burma, Pakistan) and Africa (Sudan, South Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, Somalia, DR Congo). The rationale of the project is to identify the facilitators and barriers to successful transition from school to further education and employment investigate participant awareness of support systems available when faced with education and employment difficulties redress the disadvantages encountered by refugee background youth and bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice in relation to social inclusion and participation. The study involves collecting survey data from 600 youth followed by in idual interviews with a subset of 60 youth, their parents rimary caregivers, and their teachers. A cross-sectional survey will assess facilitators and barriers to successful transition from school to further education and employment. In idual interviews will provide context-rich data on key issues relevant to education and employment outcomes. The study began in 2016 and is due for completion by the end of 2019. The quantitative survey has been conducted with 635 participants and was closed in March 2019. The qualitative interview stage is ongoing, and the current total in April 2019 is 93 participants including educators, youth, and family members of the youth. Analysis and presentation of results will be available in 2020. Some preliminary findings will be available during the late half of 2019. This project will contribute new and unique insights to knowledge in relation to key factors influencing education and employment outcomes among refugee youth. This research will enable effective planning for the needs of some of Australia’s most disadvantaged and marginalized young people, leading to a sustainable improvement in the education and employability of young refugees. DERR1-10.2196/12632
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.25954/GN92-BA56
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-06-2021
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-03-2021
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-09-2018
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-01-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-11-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-020-09724-Z
Abstract: There has been a recent focus on resettlement of migrants and refugee in rural settings in Australia and elsewhere. Rural resettlement is seen as an opportunity to revitalise rural communities, to fill the needs of employers in these areas, and to provide a welcoming community within which new arrivals can integrate and settle. However, challenges to rural resettlement have been identified including difficulties securing employment, discrimination and social isolation. These challenges can affect resettlement outcomes including health and wellbeing, though relatively little research has examined these links. In this paper we explored experiences of people from refugee background settling in a rural Australian town, examining interconnections between social determinants of health (SDH) and integration. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 44 participants from Southeast Asia and Africa in a rural setting in South Australia, covering experiences of resettlement and impacts on health and wellbeing. Participants were recruited through existing connections within the community and snowball s ling. Audio recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework thematic analysis. The study findings revealed a mixture of settlement experiences for participants across a range of elements of SDH and integration. A sense of safety and some elements of social connectedness and support were key enablers for integration and health and wellbeing, with main challenges including limitations in employment opportunities, mismatched education provision, experiences of discrimination and constrained access to services. Challenges experienced by refugees resettled in rural areas can affect integration, health and wellbeing and subsequent onward migration intentions. Attention to broader socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions, alongside tailored settlement support policies and practices for in idual rural resettlement sites, is required to support integration and health and wellbeing.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-12-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JOSH.12862
Abstract: Refugee background young people are at increased risk of mental health problems. In countries of refugee resettlement, schools are important sites where mental health difficulties can be identified and service access facilitated however, little is known about how best to support these practices within schools. This article explores school and mental health service providers' perspectives on mental health challenges and referral pathways for refugee youth in South Australia. It draws on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 17 secondary school staff and 10 mental health service providers, which were analyzed thematically. Key challenges for school staff in identifying mental health issues were understanding behaviors, overcoming stigma, cultural and linguistic barriers, engaging with parents, staff preparation and training, and embeddedness within Western understandings of mental health. There was also limited awareness of appropriate mental health services and referral pathways. Service providers recognized schools' key role in identifying mental health issues for refugee students. Enhanced training and support is required for teachers to identify and refer students who might be experiencing mental health issues. "On-site" school services, bi-cultural workers, and increased knowledge of existing within-school supports and referral pathways to external services would enhance outcomes for refugee students.
Publisher: University of South Australia
Date: 2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-09-2022
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-2017
DOI: 10.1111/AP.12301
No related grants have been discovered for Emily Miller.