Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T21:09:17.807Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Bending like a river: The Parenting between Cultures program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Carole Kayrooz
Affiliation:
Centre for Professional and Vocational Education, University of Canberra, ACT 2601
Cathy Blunt
Affiliation:
Marymead Child and Family Centre, PO Box 4260, Kingston ACT 2604

Abstract

While there are many parent education programs in Australia, there have been few developed to cater specifically to the needs of migrant groups. Attempting to fill this gap, a parenting program was developed and trialedfor three ethnic communities. The program addressed key parenting issues found to be of relevance to members of culturally and linguistically diverse groups, including: intergenerational conflict arising from different acculturation rates; the protective factor of a bicultural parenting identity; knowledge of the school system; discipline options and child abuse laws; and how to gain support. The program was subsequently independently evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative information from both the process and outcomes of the program revealed that it was effective, particularly in fostering an understanding of the impact of culture on parenting, knowledge of the school system, non-physical disciplinary methods and child abuse laws. This study may be one of the first targeted ethnic parenting programs to be independently evaluated in Australia.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2000

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (1996) Census of population and housing: Selected social and housing characteristics, Australia, Cat No. 2015.0, ABS: Canberra.Google Scholar
Batrouney, T. & Stone, W. (1998) ‘Cultural Diversity and Family Exchanges’, Family Matters, No 51, Spring/Summer, 1320.Google Scholar
Clarke, J. Illsley (1981) Building self esteem in the family, Harper, San Francisco.Google Scholar
D’Mello, A. (1992) ‘Dual Identities – Loss or Gain: the case of the cultural identity of children of immigrant parents’, VICSEG Newsletter, July, 6–1.Google Scholar
Frederico, M., Cooper, B. & Picton, C. (1997) The experience of homelessness amongst the Cambodian. Laotian, Vietnamese, DIMA.Google Scholar
Fuller, A. (1998) From Surviving To Thriving: Promoting Mental Health In Young People, ACER.Google Scholar
Korbin, J. (1991) ‘Cross Cultural Perspectives and Research Directions for the 21st Century’, Child Abuse and Neglect, No 15, Supplement 1, 6777.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDonald, J. & Taylor, J. (1994) Disadvantage and children of immigration: a longitudinal study, AGPS, Canberra.Google Scholar
MacPhee, D., Fritz, J. & Miller-Heyl, J. (1996) ‘Ethnic Variations in Personal Social Networks and Parenting’, Child Development, 32783294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGurk, H. & Kolar, V. (1997) ‘Exploring Parenthood and Parenting – an Introduction to Parenting 21’, Family Matters, Spring/Summer, No 48, 3840.Google Scholar
National Crime Prevention (1999) Pathways to Prevention: Developmental and Early Intervention Approaches to Crime in Australia, Attorney General’s Dept: Canberra.Google Scholar
NSW. Child Protection (1997) Child Protection in Non English Speaking Background Communities - Culture No Excuse, NSW. Child Protection Council Child Protection Council, Sydney: Australia.Google Scholar
Prince, G. (1995) How Can a Stranger Understand Me? A Report on Access to Culturally Appropriate Family Skills Training and Adolescent Mediation and Family Therapy for Youth and Family Services, (Logan City) Inc: Queensland.Google Scholar
Seitz, A. & Kaufinan, T. (1993) Too Shameful to Talk About-Ethnic Communities Perceptions of Family Violence and Child Sexual Abuse. Phase 1: Cambodian, Chinese, Laotian, Vietnamese, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Victoria, Australia.Google Scholar
Schoeffel, P., Meleisea, M., Rahui, D., Kaluni, R., Kalolo, K. & Kingi, P. (1996) ‘Pacific Islands Polynesian Attitudes to Child Training and Discipline in New Zealand: Some Policy Implications for Social Welfare and Education’, Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, No 6, July, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Scott, D. & O’Neill, D. (1996) Beyond child rescue: the development of family centred practice at St Lukes, Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Tomison, A. (1998a) ‘Valuing Parent Education - A Cornerstone of Child Abuse Prevention’, Issues in Child Abuse Prevention No 10, Spring, Melbourne: Australia.Google Scholar
Tomison, A. (1998b) ‘Child Protection towards 2000 revisited: Trends in child protection and child abuse prevention’, unpublished paper, 6th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne Google Scholar
Weston, R. (1996) ‘English Language Skills and Parents Well Being’, Family Matters, No 45, Spring/Summer, 3437. Google Scholar