Post on 15-Jan-2016
description
Intergenerational Conflict and the Child
Protection System
Session Overview
African Learning Circle
Overview of issues for young people
Issues for parents in a new country
Discussion
African Learning Circle
Established to provide a forum for Community
Services,
African communities, and services providers to
meet to
discuss concerns about child protection and the
wellbeing
of children, young people, and families
Jointly run by CS, HHP MRC, other services
Meets quarterly
Attended by workers and community
members/parents
Child protection, parenting, relationships,
adolescents
Joint session with parents and young people
Difficulties identified by young people
Lack of personal freedom compared to peers
Discipline used by parents – corporal punishment
Parents wanting them to live by their culture and rules
Parents not accepting that things are “different here”
Parents not understanding their identity
Parents not respecting their rights
What would help my parents
Workshops on western culture and life in Australia
More services
Recognition of their role as parents – quote – “scared”
Resilience of surviving refugee experience
Integrate and learn from others
Getting support from community and religious leaders
How mothers felt about raising teens in Australia
Horrible
Scared
Confused
Busy
Lost
Expensive
Stressful
Satisfying
Issues for mother and fathers
Children not compliant like in home country
Children not accepting traditional roles and place
Not having community involved in discipline
Negative peer pressure more present in Australia
Not understanding the limits of physical discipline
Fear of Community Services and police intervening
Feeling disempowered – English, knowing the system and rights
Changing roles for mothers and fathers
New expectations about how to parent
What would help my teenager
Respect
Hard work and discipline
Support of parents, friends and family
Parents making sacrificing
Church and youth groups
Support from schools
Their adaptability
Possible implications for child protection
Family breakdowns resulting in youth homelessness
Risk taking behaviors e.g., drug and prostitution
Excessive disciplinary practices resulting in harm
Neglect associated with family breakdown
About Information Sessions for Parents
What is child abuse, appropriate discipline, reporting
Address gap in awareness of child protection
Addresses fears and anxieties about parenting
Provided to emerging communities by local offices
Over 55 sessions provided in the past year
Can be requested by contacting Fatma Mohamed
Current CS Strategies
African Learning Circle
Multicultural Learning Circle
Information sessions for parents on child abuse laws
Questions and discussion
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