Navigating Resettlement: Matched Mentoring and Creative Media Design for Refugee and Migrant Youth in Transition, Greater Western Sydney

Perspectives on Transitions in Refugee Education

“…The CWM used in this research was underpinned by five areas of lived experience that influence Refugee wellbeing (Joyce & Liamputtong 2017, Moustakim & Mackay 2018, Mackay et al 2018, Mackay 2019). These were 1.…”

“…Although Australia's Refugee intake is small in comparison the rest of the world, 55% of its humanitarian entrants in 2016 were young people under 25 years. During this period, Refugees arrivals primarily came from Iraq, Syria, Burma, Afghanistan and Iran (Mackay 2018). Despite this diversity, Australia's educational policy for Refugees remains focused upon monoculturalism and the acquisition of English rather than a wholistic approach that integrates home languages and cultures into learning environments.…”

“…What is often underestimated is that young Refugee's must also navigate social emotional worlds within the cultural norms of the new environment , Smith et al 2021. Navigating the local cultural landscape can be overwhelming, heighten anxiety and lead to cascading impacts on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing (Mackay et al 2018, Mackay 2019, O'Donnell et al 2020. Alternative approaches that foster more nuanced, equitable and Cultural Wellbeing approaches to Refugee student learning are therefore needed.…”