Women who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds face a range of complex issues. Their experiences in their country of origin vary, as do their reasons for coming to Australia. Women may be visiting family or seeking better economic conditions or they may be refugees fleeing persecution.  These women, in particular, may have experienced multiple forms of violence and trauma.

Women’s coping mechanisms may differ depending on their degree of cultural adaptation to their environment. Some women may have lived in Australia for two weeks, while others may have lived here twenty years. The amount of time women and children have been in Australia does not necessarily equate with a sense of ‘home’. The experience of family violence impacts significantly on women and children’s experience of migration and settlement and vice versa. Therefore the idea of homelessness, as it pertains to women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, is beyond ‘house-less-ness’. The idea of homelessness and beyond house-lessness also extends to women without permanent residency status as a sense of homelessness can be exacerbated by a lack of citizenship. This can result in a feeling of homelessness that includes ‘country-less-ness’ or more simply, a lack of belonging.

Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to the effects of violence and face barriers in seeking assistance or disclosing their experience as they may:

• Be challenged by a limited understanding of English;
• Lack extended family and community support, a particular concern for women from small and emerging communities;
• Encounter difficulties in accessing legal and support services owing to language and cultural differences;
• Be unaware of their rights and of laws prohibiting family violence in Australia and relating to immigration;
• Lack knowledge of housing, income and support services designed to assist women who experience family violence;
• Fear that reporting violence will compromise their future residency in Australia or their entitlement to programs and services, a particular concern for women on temporary or spouse visas;
• Have limited access to resources such as employment skills, education, income and assets which may enable them to exercise choice when subject to violence, a particular concern for the recently arrived;
• Fear that their confidentiality will be breached by service providers;
• Originate from societies in which there are strong cultural prohibitions against separation and divorce.

For children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the effects of exposure to violence may be compounded by cultural differences from the mainstream community, increasing their sense of vulnerability and isolation.

HASS Standard 4.4 - Culturally Competent Services - Here are some reflective prompt questions to assist practitioners to think about and reflect on their practice with women and children from CALD backgrounds

Contact Us | Feedback | Home

URL: http://www.dvvic.org.au/CALDwomen.html
Email: admin@dvvic.org.au    Phone: 03 9921 0828
Web Page Last Updated: 12th June 2009
For problems accessing this site email admin@dvvic.org.au