- Title
- The role of language education programs on the integration of Middle Eastern Refugee Mothers (MERMs) in regional Australia
- Creator
- Motevali Zadeh Ardakani, Azadeh
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2023
- Description
- Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Description
- The global refugee crisis continues to forcibly displace millions of people, many of whom are mothers. Scattered populations resettle in different countries around the world, including Australia. However, resettlement in a new country is associated with multiple challenges, including re-building a new life, adapting to an unfamiliar culture, and acquiring a new language. These challenges are exacerbated for refugee women and mothers who are the core of the family. Yet, little is known about their resettlement challenges. Middle Eastern Refugee Mothers (MERMs) are among the groups whose voices are rarely heard, despite the increasing refugee populations who have been resettling in regional Australia. The under-representation of these mothers within the regional Australian community prompted the need to conduct this research. Given the importance of language proficiency as one of the key facilitators of integration, the purpose of this study was to explore the role of language education programs on the integration of MERMs in regional Australia. This study employed a qualitative research method and utilised a narrative enquiry technique. It involved semi-structured interviews with 21 refugee mothers from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan who had been living in a regional Australian town between 6 months and 7 years. The participants arrived in Australia under the refugee and humanitarian program and enrolled in the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit the participants. The semi-structured interviews were conducted in participants’ first languages (Farsi/Dari and Arabic) to collect accurate data. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated to English. The data were coded, categorised, and analysed, using Ager and Strang’s (2008) integration model as an analytical framework. The findings indicate that the language barrier was the major challenge for MERMs in regional Australia, particularly, for mothers with limited formal education and illiteracy in their first language. The participants experienced substantial dependence on their family members and interpreters for daily activities due to the language barrier, leading to their social isolation. Despite the provision of language education through the AMEP program, the progress made by the participants was minimal. The findings suggest that to facilitate the unique needs of these mothers, a more suitable and flexible English language program is required. This study may impact the design and delivery of specific programs to support not only refugee women and mothers in Middle Eastern communities, but also women from other cultural and ethnic disadvantaged groups in Australia, and English-speaking resettlement countries with similar context. It may also assist local policymakers in planning and evaluating inclusive services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities and underprivileged groups.
- Subject
- language; education; Middle Eastern refugee mothers; integration; Australia
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1506829
- Identifier
- uon:55931
- Rights
- This thesis is currently under embargo and will be available from 27.10.2025, Copyright 2023 Azadeh Motevali Zadeh Ardakani
- Language
- eng
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