The experiences of second generation Samoans in Australia

Abstract

Within this group are second generation Australians, who were born in Australia or New Zealand, but whose parent or parents were born in Samoa. Unfortunately, many second generation Australians of Samoan descent have not experienced the education and employment opportunities that prompted their parents' migration to Australia (Cuthill & Scull, 2011; Kearney & Glen, 2017). Instead, those with New Zealand citizenship, whose parents are unable to meet the qualifying criteria for permanent residence in Australia, have been marginalised and excluded by a series of legislative shifts since 2001 (Hamer, 2014; Kearney & Glen, 2017), affecting their access to certain social security payments and eligibility for the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS)a loan scheme available for Australian students to complete university studies.

Tattoo my mouth: Samoan language survival in Australia

“…Many of her study participants spoke less Samoan and relied on English to communicate. While these same language patterns could also be seen among our Samoan communities in Australia, for Samoan Australians whose first language was English, Stanley and Kearney (2017) identified that being around other Samoans and church attendance helped to "develop and maintain Samoan language" and "fa'a Samoa [the Samoan culture or way of life]" (p. 57).…”

“…With the languages of our Pacific cousins Niue and Tuvalu officially listed as endangered, studies on other ethnic groups in Australia, such as the Chinese community also show native language decrease among the second and third generation ("Endangered Languages: The Full List," 2011; Mak & Chan, 1995). There are also other international studies on second generation people that show the decline in native language use and the dominance of English (Alba et al, 2002;Portes & Rumbaut, 2001;Stanley & Kearney, 2017). According to Macpherson (1997), New Zealandborn Samoans are educated in a Palagi (Caucasian) system that constantly enforces the Palagi language (as cited in Akeripa, 2017).…”

Cultural Pride: Exploring Indigenous athlete culture and wellbeing

“…One was based in Fiji and the other in South Auckland. As researchers from Pasifika communities, we advocate for the need to understand and embrace diasporic communities and different cultures, such as Pasifika, as it will assist in maximising sporting potential in general and benefit society overall (Stanley & Kearney, 2017;Zakus & Horton, 2009).…”

Digital innovation and funeral practices: Māori and Samoan perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Despite this change, many Samoan funeral traditions are continued in Australia. Samoans who reside in these countries still collectively mourn and support each other through a fusion of Fa'a Samoa with Christian hymns, si'i and traditional chanting, as shown in Figure 2 (see below) (Stanley & Kearney, 2017;Va'a, 1995).…”