Working With Indo-Chinese Refugees in Malaysia: First Asylum Camps – A Social Work Perspective

Abstract

This article is based on the writer's social work experience with Indo-Chinese refugees. The author argues that family and cultural background as well as traumatic recent past events in these refugees' lives must be taken into consideration when providing social services to this client group. To explain the impact of the recent past trauma on the Indo-Chinese refugees, the writer presents the physical and psycho-social conditions in the two refugee camps where she worked. She also explores the cultural factors of some of the most common characteristic behaviours of clients. The paper concludes with group work and case work techniques and an appeal for better understanding of this client group.