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

Feel good image