Abstract
In the last decade the number of African refugees arriving in Australia has increased significantly, to the extent to which by 2008 they outnumbered all other refugee and humanitarian entrants to Australia (for example, in 2004-2005 75% of all refugee and humanitarian entrants to Australia were from Africa). Existing service provision models have been found to be ill-equipped to cope with this sudden influx and have struggled to cope with the unique needs of African refugees (trauma, cultural needs, racism and longer settlement adjustment periods – compared to other groups) in particular. This paper is based on a data-base and literature analysis of the numbers, issues and problems faced by refugees in Western Australia. Its major aim is to provide researchers and policy-makers with a resource base from which they can further their understandings of the plight of refugees in developing nations. As such much of the paper is based on analysis of a large amount of literature and data from government agencies, designed to provide an exhaustive overview of refugees, their experiences and gaps in service provision in Western Australia.
Highlights
This was in part in response to a perceived failure of the IHSS and Settlement Grants Program (SGP) to fully meet the needs of these individuals (DIAC, 2007b)
The 2007-2008 Federal Budget allocated AUD$35.2 million for the purpose of establishing complex case support services, to provide intensive case management for entrants with exceptional needs. This decision was made on the basis that current services, such as the Integrated Humanitarian Services Scheme (IHSS) and the Settlement Grants Program (SGP), were not effectively meeting the needs of those individuals who were subject to extreme torture, trauma or crisis events in their home country (DIAC, 2007b)
African humanitarian entrants are a group of entrants that generally have higher needs than other entrants that Australia has assisted in the past (Australian Government, 2006; Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI), 2005; DIAC, 2007; Mitchell, Kaplan & Crowe, 2006; Pittaway, 2004)
Summary
If focuses on Western Australia (WA), to provide readers with a case study of 1) numbers of refugees arriving in this state in recent years; 2) the efficacy of existing refugee services to these refugees and 3) an example of a new innovative pilot project offered in WA to meet gaps in existing refugee services. Chaired by the Hon. Margaret Quirk MLA, the aims of the Working Party were to identify emerging settlement issues of significance for African entrants in WA, propose strategies to address these needs, and enhance communication and coordination of service delivery. Waxman, 1999; Taylor, 2004; Pittaway, 2004; Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, 2006 have identified a number of issues refugees and humanitarian entrants face during the resettlement process in Australia including: ijps.ccsenet.org Earnest, Housen & Gilleatt (2007) define humanitarian entrants as “individuals whose human rights have been grossly violated in their country of origin” (Hancock, McMeekin & Bahn, 2008, p.4). Waxman, 1999; Taylor, 2004; Pittaway, 2004; Colic-Peisker & Tilbury, 2006 have identified a number of issues refugees and humanitarian entrants face during the resettlement process in Australia including: ijps.ccsenet.org
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