Learning to live over again : the resettlement stories of refugees from the former Yugoslavia

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Melbourne, 2000This thesis followed the resettlement in Australia, specifically Victoria, of three refugee families from the former Yugoslavia. The three families arrived here in 1995, and have made a new life for themselves. The settlement process was the key issue under examination, as the assumption was that if new arrivals can find a sense of belonging, then this is of benefit to themselves and the Australian community. The examination of this process focussed on the role of education, and coming to the conclusion as to which factors have helped them and which factors have been more difficult to contend with. In-depth, case study interviews were conducted, with an emphasis on a limited number of open-ended questions, so as to maximise the families' conclusions about their situation after discussion. Specifically the key research questions concerned: firstly, key information about the biography of the families; secondly, the circumstances of their move out of the former Yugoslavia; thirdly, what happened when they arrived in Australia - with respect to key services, such as education. The thesis findings illustrate that refugees need to be assisted in their grieving process before a satisfactory sense of belonging can be achieved. This sense of belonging is necessary in order to make adequate progress in a new culture