Cultural and Diversity

Refugee families are those who are refugees who have fled their home countries in consequence of a crisis such as conflict, persecution, disaster and are now finding their refuge in Australia. Their struggles, often combined with traumas, losses and large adaptations to an entirely new culture, weigh heavily. In early childhood education, getting to know refugee families is important because these children face different challenges that affect their learning and wellbeing (Cologon & Hayden, 2017).

Sociological models of development, like Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, shed light on how interactions between a child’s family, community, and society shape the development of a child. To refugee children, multiple streams of change, such as acculturating to a new culture and language as well as dealing with previous trauma shape development and relationships (Grace, Burns & Menzies, 2017).

In Australia refugee families are from diverse backgrounds, as they come from many countries with diverse languages and customs. As these families settle and integrate, the need for flexible and culturally responsive early childhood education will grow (Parliament of Australia, 2015). This diversity underscores the need to familiarise ourselves with each child’s background and experiences.

Impact on Children and Families:

Refugee children have learned language, emotional and social barriers which could be difficult to overcome as they have not been familiarised with the new setting. Concentration and learning engagement can be impacted with stress and trauma. Language barriers, unfamiliar systems or discrimination also make it difficult for families to access services. These challenges must be acknowledged within early childhood settings and inclusive, supportive environments provided (Cologon & Hayden, 2017).

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