COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Supporting Refugee & Migrant Families at Risk course. This program has been developed to equip you with the skills and frameworks required to support refugee and migrant families who are experiencing vulnerability. The course explores the unique pre-migration, migration, and settlement challenges that shape family life, while reinforcing culturally safe and responsive practices that promote resilience, safety, and inclusion.

Supporting refugee and migrant families begins with a clear understanding of their legal and social status in Australia. This course begins by introducing the differences between voluntary migration, asylum seeking, and refugee resettlement, and provides an overview of settlement patterns in Australian communities. It explains why tailored support is critical for these families, who often face intersecting risks linked to trauma, cultural adaptation, and systemic barriers.

Pre-migration and migration experiences significantly influence the wellbeing of families after arrival. This section explores the impact of war, persecution, displacement, and prolonged uncertainty. It examines the often-traumatic experiences of refugee camps, hazardous migration journeys, and the psychological toll of instability prior to resettlement. Recognising these experiences provides context for understanding vulnerabilities and building effective support.

Settlement in a new country brings many challenges. This section explains the difficulties families encounter when adapting to new cultural, social, and legal systems. It examines barriers such as unemployment, housing insecurity, overcrowding, financial stress, and language limitations. These factors not only affect family stability but also create risks for intergenerational conflict and social exclusion.

Understanding family structures is essential for effective support. This section explores traditional kinship models, gender roles, and cultural expectations within refugee and migrant families. It highlights how migration often shifts power dynamics and can generate conflict between generations, particularly as children adapt more quickly to new cultural norms than parents or elders.

Certain risk factors increase the vulnerability of refugee and migrant families. This section identifies issues such as poverty, unemployment, social isolation, trauma, and systemic discrimination. It examines how these challenges intersect to heighten risk and undermine resilience, reinforcing the importance of early and targeted intervention.

Domestic and family violence presents unique challenges in refugee and migrant communities. This section addresses cultural stigma, underreporting, and barriers to accessing legal or crisis services. It highlights how fear of authorities, cultural norms, and limited knowledge of rights can prevent disclosure, and provides strategies for recognising and responding to violence in culturally sensitive ways.

Children and young people are particularly impacted by displacement and resettlement. This section explores how disrupted education, trauma, racism, and identity struggles affect development and wellbeing. It discusses the pressures of balancing cultural heritage with integration into Australian society, and the importance of fostering safe, supportive environments that promote resilience.

Trauma and mental health issues are common among refugee and migrant families. This section explains conditions such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety, alongside cultural stigma surrounding mental health. It explores the barriers to accessing appropriate services and underscores the importance of trauma-informed care that respects cultural perspectives and healing practices.

Supporting families also requires knowledge of Australia’s legal and policy frameworks. This section outlines visa pathways, rights and entitlements, family violence provisions in migration law, and mandatory reporting obligations for child protection. Understanding these frameworks ensures services are compliant, protective, and empowering for families.

Cultural safety is fundamental to effective practice. This section explains the principles of culturally safe service delivery, emphasising the importance of avoiding stereotypes, working with interpreters, and respecting cultural and religious practices. It reinforces the role of cultural responsiveness in building trust and effective engagement.

Engaging families successfully requires patience and sensitivity. This section outlines how to establish rapport, overcome mistrust of services, and communicate effectively with families under stress. It also highlights the role of extended family and community leaders in supporting engagement and building collaborative networks of care.

Women in refugee and migrant communities face particular vulnerabilities, including gender-based violence, cultural stigma, and barriers to accessing services. This section explores strategies for empowerment, supporting disclosure, and building networks of peer and professional support. It highlights the importance of improving access to education, health, and legal services for women.

Men in refugee and migrant families also require targeted support. This section explores acculturation stress, identity challenges, and loss of status that can impact men’s wellbeing. It highlights the importance of engaging men in respectful relationship programs, reducing stigma around seeking help, and promoting positive roles as fathers and caregivers.

Strengthening social and community connections reduces isolation and supports integration. This section explores the role of community organisations, culturally specific programs, and civic participation. It highlights the importance of building belonging and resilience through volunteering, community engagement, and support networks.

Effective support depends on collaboration across agencies and sectors. This section outlines how partnerships between mainstream services, migrant-specific programs, schools, health providers, and justice systems can deliver coordinated responses. It also examines protocols for ethical and safe information-sharing between services.

Safety planning and risk management must be adapted to cultural contexts. This section explains how to identify immediate risks, develop culturally appropriate safety plans, and provide crisis housing support. It emphasises the balance between ensuring safety and respecting cultural values during intervention.

Finally, continuous improvement is key to sustainable practice. This section highlights how services can evaluate program effectiveness, incorporate feedback from refugee and migrant families, and build cultural competence through professional development. It also reinforces the importance of evidence-based and innovative approaches to supporting at-risk families.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the cultural understanding, practical strategies, and collaborative skills required to support refugee and migrant families at risk. You will be able to respond with sensitivity, uphold rights, and foster resilience, safety, and inclusion within diverse Australian communities.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Refugee and Migrant Family Support

• Defining refugee and migrant status in the Australian context
• Differences between voluntary migration, asylum seeking, and refugee resettlement
• Overview of settlement patterns in Australia
• Why tailored support is essential

2. Pre-Migration and Migration Experiences

• Impacts of war, displacement, and persecution
• Refugee camp and transit experiences
• Migration journeys and risks
• Effects of prolonged uncertainty

3. Post-Migration Settlement Challenges

• Adapting to new cultural, social, and legal environments
• Financial and employment difficulties
• Housing insecurity and overcrowding
• Language and literacy barriers

4. Understanding Family Structures and Roles

• Traditional family and kinship models
• Gender roles and cultural expectations
• Intergenerational differences and conflict
• Shifts in power dynamics after migration

5. Risk Factors for Refugee and Migrant Families

• Social isolation and lack of support networks
• Poverty and unemployment
• Trauma and mental health vulnerabilities
• Discrimination and systemic barriers

6. Domestic and Family Violence in Refugee and Migrant Contexts

• Cultural stigma around family violence
• Underreporting due to fear of authorities
• Barriers to accessing legal and crisis services
• Recognising cultural and contextual indicators

7. The Impact on Children and Young People

• Interrupted education and language acquisition challenges
• Effects of trauma on development and wellbeing
• Risk of bullying, racism, and identity struggles
• Balancing cultural identity with integration pressures

8. Trauma and Mental Health in Refugee and Migrant Families

• Common trauma-related conditions (PTSD, depression, anxiety)
• Stigma of mental health in some cultural groups
• Access barriers to culturally appropriate mental health services
• Importance of trauma-informed care

9. Legal and Policy Frameworks in Australia

• Refugee and humanitarian visa pathways
• Rights and entitlements of migrant and refugee families
• Family violence provisions under migration law
• Mandatory reporting and child safety requirements

10. Cultural Safety and Responsiveness

• Principles of culturally safe practice
• Avoiding stereotypes and assumptions
• Working with interpreters effectively
• Respecting religious and cultural practices

11. Engaging Families and Building Trust

• Establishing rapport in culturally appropriate ways
• Overcoming mistrust of services and authorities
• Communication strategies with families under stress
• Involving extended family and community leaders

12. Supporting Women in Refugee and Migrant Communities

• Gender-based violence and empowerment
• Access to education, health, and legal support
• Cultural stigma and barriers to disclosure
• Building peer and support networks

13. Supporting Men in Refugee and Migrant Communities

• Addressing acculturation stress and loss of status
• Engaging men in respectful relationship programs
• Reducing stigma around seeking support
• Promoting positive fatherhood and caregiving roles

14. Strengthening Community and Social Connections

• Role of community organisations and settlement services
• Culturally specific programs and support networks
• Building belonging and reducing isolation
• Encouraging civic participation and volunteering

15. Interagency and Cross-Sector Collaboration

• Importance of coordinated responses for at-risk families
• Partnerships between mainstream and migrant-specific services
• Working with schools, health, and justice systems
• Sharing information safely and ethically

16. Safety Planning and Risk Management

• Identifying immediate risks in family situations
• Developing culturally appropriate safety plans
• Supporting families in crisis or transitional housing
• Balancing safety with cultural sensitivity

17. Continuous Improvement and Best Practice

• Evaluating effectiveness of support programs
• Incorporating feedback from refugee and migrant families
• Ongoing professional development in cultural competence
• Promoting innovation and evidence-based practice

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.