Abstract
Purpose Current domestic and international research predominantly examines the past experiences of people seeking asylum and the negative influences such experiences have on health and well-being. However, few studies address the future needs of people seeking asylum, as they transition from Direct Provision. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge by exploring the perspectives of women seeking asylum in Ireland on the skills they think they will need, as they transition from Direct Provision to life in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach was used, to collect data collaboratively and sensitively with a vulnerable population group. Convenience sampling was used to recruit six women seeking asylum in Ireland, to participate in focus groups and semi-structured interviews. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Women seeking asylum identified four themes of skills for doing, skills for being, skills for becoming and skills for belonging that are necessary for life in Ireland after Direct Provision. Barriers and opportunities to develop these skills were documented as sub-themes. The skills identified under these themes and sub-themes included work, education, driving, childcare, social integration, money management, home management, health management and leisure. Originality/value Using participatory methodologies, future research should further explore the skills required for transition from Direct Provision, to continue to raise awareness of the potential for occupational injustice and the role occupational therapists could play in this transitional period.
Highlights
Over 70.5 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, with 3.5 million people seeking asylum in 2018 [United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), 2019]
The analysis resulted in eight subthemes that formed four main themes: skills for doing; skills for being; skills for becoming; and skills for belonging
These themes and associated subthemes were aspects that the participants reverted to when assessing their current ability to practice skills and determining the necessary skills for transitioning from Direct Provision to life in Ireland
Summary
Over 70.5 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide, with 3.5 million people seeking asylum in 2018 [United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), 2019]. In Ireland, 6,252 were awaiting their applications for asylum to be processed in 2018 (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, 2019). Most people seeking asylum in Ireland, whilst awaiting refugee status, are accommodated by a service called Direct Provision [Department of Justice and Equality (DoJE), 2019]. This service is provided by the Reception and Integration Agency under the Department of Justice and Equality and provides people seeking asylum with full board accommodation and certain ancillary services, whilst their applications for asylum are being processed (DoJE, 2019). At the time of data collection, Ireland had no legal framework for how people seeking asylum should be provided for whilst awaiting a decision on their asylum application (Irish Refugee Council, 2013). In response to the Supreme Court judgement which found Ireland’s absolute ban on employment for asylum seekers to be unconstitutional, the Recast European Union Reception Conditions Directive was
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