Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T14:09:07.620Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Migrant Family: Some comments on Social Work Practice with non-English speaking migrants.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2024

Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The description of the P. family — their anxieties, hardships and frustrations will be a familiar story to social workers working with non-English speaking migrant clients, regardless of whether the social worker is employed by ethnic or sectarian agencies or the wider general agencies such as government departments, municipal councils or independent organizations. This attempts to investigate some of the ways in which social workers can attempt to help and support the migrant client from a different ethnic group in his struggle to create a new life in Australia. The P. family's story will be used to illustrate some of the major areas of difficulty faced by a migrant family and a number of social work roles and strategies are suggested which might be employed in seeking to bring about social change. The implications of ethnicity for social work practice in a multi-cultural society form a central focus of concern. Finally, general comments and suggestions will be made about the role and responsibilities of the social worker in the multi-cultural society.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

References

Footnotes

1. Price, C. A.Southern Europeans in AustraliaMelbourne, (1963) p.25 Google Scholar

2. Jupp, J.Arrivals and Departures”, Melbourne, (1966) p. 44–6Google Scholar.

3. Collins, J.Migrant Poverty in Australia’ in “The Economic Review”, Vol. XIX No. 3/4 (Oct. 1974)Google Scholar.

4. Grassby, A. J.Australia's Decade of Decision”, Immigration Reference Paper, Australian Govt. Printing Service, Canberra, (1973) p. 69 Google Scholar.

5. Campbell, J. K.Honour and the Devil’ in Peristiany, J. C. (ed). “Honour and ShameLondon, (1965) p. 145–6 Google Scholar.

6. Vassiliou, G. and Vassiliou, V.On Aspects of Child-Rearing in Greece”. The Athenian Institute of Anthropes, Communication No. 82, Athens, n.d. (Ecumenical Migration Centre files) p. 13 Google Scholar.

7. Fox, D.Towards an Understanding of the Greek MigrantEcumenical Migration Centre Monograph No. 1, Richmond (Vic) (1974) p. 4 Google Scholar.

8. Campbell, J. K.Honour, Family and Patronage”, Oxford, (1964) p. 193 Google Scholar.

9. Turnley, B., Dunt, M. (et al) ‘Child-care in Temporary Maternal Absence — A. Cross — Cultural Survey’ unpublished paper (n.d., n.p.)P.10. (E.M.C, files)Google Scholar

10. Campbell, Honour and the Devil’ in Peristiany, op. cit. p. 142 Google Scholar.

11. Cox op. cit. p. 17.

12. Cox op. cit. p. 12.

13. Vassiliou and Vassiliou op. cit. p. 20.

14. Moraitis, S.Paediatric Problems as Seen by the Medical Practitioner’ in “Medical Journal of Australia” (14.10.1972) p. 882 Google Scholar.

15. Vassiliou and Vassiliou op. cit. p. 19.

16. Vassiliou and Vassiliou op. cit. p. 18-20.

17. Aspects of Parent — Adolescent Transaction in the Greek FamilyThe Athenian Institute of Anthropes, Communication No. 30,’ Athens (n.d.) p. 13 (E.M.C, files)Google Scholar

18. Moraitis op. cit. p. 882.

19. Santa-Isabel, J.Study of Italian and Yugoslav Families who have children attending Noble Park Primary School conducted September/December, 1974’. Unpublished paper, p. 5 Google Scholar.

20. Goding, A.The Problems of the Migrant School Child’ in Parker, N. (ed) “Focus on MigrantsA.C.O.S.S. Sydney, 1973, p. 69 Google Scholar.

21. Claydon, L. F.Ethnic Minorities and Education: An Overview of Policies and some Indication of Probable Trends and Aims’ in Storer, D.Ethnic Rights, Power and Participation”.Google Scholar Clearing House on Migration Issues, Monograph No. 2 Richmond, (Vic) 1975 p. 51.Google Scholar

22. Jurjevic, A.Migrants and Education: Realities and Hopes’ in Storer, op. cit. p. 15 Google Scholar.

23. Claydon in Storer op. cit p. 52-3.

24. Brotherhood of Saint LaurenceTwo Worlds: School and the Migrant Family, Melbourne” (1971) p. 37 Google Scholar.

25. Doczy, A. G.Life Problems of Young Adolescent Immigrant Boys” in “International Migration” Vol. VI. No. 1-2 (1968) p. 1219 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

26. COX op. cit. p. 25.

27. Zubrzycki, J.The Immigrant Family — Some Sociological Aspects’ in Stoller, A. (ed) “New Faces”, Melbourne (1969)Google Scholar.

28. Potamianou, A.Trends of Discipline in the Greek Family’ in “Human Relations” (24.5.1971) p. 393 Google Scholar.

29. Cox, D.Greek and Yugoslav Attitudes to Childbirth and Child Rearing’ unpublished paper, (Sept. 1974) p. 7. (E.M.C, files)Google Scholar

30. Henderson, R. F., Harcourt, A. and Harper, R.People in PovertyCheshire, Melbourne (1970) p. 125 Google Scholar.

31. Campbell op. cit. p. 273.

32. Blum, R. & Blum, E.Health and Healing in Rural GreeceStanford Univ. Press. Stanford, California (1965) p. 64 Google Scholar.

33. Campbell, in Peristiany, op. cit. p. 142.

34. Petrolias, J. A.Post-War Greek and Italian Migrants in Melbourne” Unpublished Ph.d. thesis, Univ. of Melbourne, (1959) p. 65 Google Scholar.

35. Petrolias, op. cit. p. 59 et passim.

36. Price op. cit. p. 67.

37. This perspective was suggested by a number of participants at a meeting of Welfare Rights workers held at the Ecumenical Migration Centre, Richmond, in February, 1975.

38. Rodopaulos, L.Case Work and the Greek Migrant’ unpublished paper (n.d. n.p.) P.H. (E.M.C, files)Google Scholar

39. Augoustakis, S.Social Security and Migrant Welfare’ in Social Security Quarterly, summer 1974-1975. p.3 Google Scholar.

40. Augoustakis, op. cit. p. 1-2.

41. Based on comments made by officers of the Department of Social Security, at a meeting held to discuss unemployment, Brotherhood of St. Laurence officers, Fitzroy, May, 1975.

42. Augoustakis op. cit. p. 1.

43. Pincus, A. & Minahan, A.Social Work Practice: Model and MethodF. E. Peacock, Itasca, Illinois (1973) p. 7 et passimGoogle Scholar.

44. Adler, D. L. and Taft, R.Some Psychological Aspects of Immigrant Assimilation’ in Steller, op. cit. pp. 77–8Google Scholar.

45. Banchevska, R.The Communication Problems of the Ethnic Minority Groups’ (n.p. n.d.) p. 3 Google Scholar.

46. Santa Isabel op. cit. p. 11-12.

47. Australian Council of Social Service “Report of Working Party on National Level Interpreter Needs”. Sydney, 1974, p. 4 Google Scholar.

48. The Immigration Department's establishment of the Telephone Interpreter Service alleviated this situation slightly but their limited resources has led to limiting the service to use by official organizations.

49. Brotherhood of St. Laurence op. cit. p. 44.

50. Kovacs, M. L.Alienation and the Assimilation of Migrants’ in “Australian Journal of Social Issues”, Vol. 10, No. 3 (August, 1975) p. 228 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

51. Kovacs, H. L. and CROPLEY, A. J. “Alienation and Assimilation” McGraw-Hill, Sydney (1975) p. 126.

52. Kovacs and Cropley, (Alienation …) op. cit. p. 227.

53. Zubrzycki in Staller op. cit. p. 64.

54. Williams, J.Australian Family Agencies’ in Parker, op. cit. p. 50 Google Scholar.

55. Baker, R.The Concept of the Multirole Practitioner in the Generic Orientation to Social Work Practice’ unpublished paper, August, 1975 Google Scholar.

56. Moroutis, S. & Zigouras, J.Impressions of Greek Migrants’ in “Medical Journal of Australia”, Vol. 1 No. 11 (13.3.1971) p. 598 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

57. Aust. Council of Social Service (Report …) op. cit.

58. Williams in Parker op. cit. p. 49.

59. Ibid.

60. Rodopaulos op. ct. p. 8.

61. Ibid.

62. Bradshaw, J.The Concept of Social Need’ in “Ekistics 220”, March (1974) p. 184–5 Google Scholar.

63. Rodopoulos op. cit. p. 8.

64. Rodopoulos op. cit. p. 5-6.

65. Parker op. cit. p. 120.

66. Triseliotis, J.Casework with immigrants — The Implications of Cultural Factors’ in “The British Journal of Psychiatric Social Work”. Vol. VIII, No. 1 (1965) p. 20 Google Scholar.

67. Gans, H.The Urban VillagersNew York, (1962) p. 144 Google Scholar.

68. Cox, D.Problems of the Single Male Migrant’ in Parker, op. cit. p. 13 Google Scholar.

69. Robinson, V.Training Indigenous Community Leaders for Employment in Social Work’ or Social Casework. Vol. XLVIII, No. 5 (May, 1967) p. 278 Google Scholar.

70. Wood, C.Community, Culture and Social Work’ or Social Work Today, Vol.3, No. 15 (Oct. 1972) p. 912 Google Scholar.

71. Santa-Isabel, op. cit. p. 15.

72. Goding in Parker op.cit. p. 73.

73. Williams in Parker op. cit. p. 50.

74. Hardcastle, D.The Indigenous Non-Professional in the Social Service BureaucracyA Social Work Vol. 16 No. 2 (April, 1971) p. 5663 Google Scholar.

75. Turnley, DUNT (et al) op. cit.

76. Jurjevic op. cit. p. 14.

77. Jupp op. cit. p. 149.

78. Ibid.

79. Conversation with John Santa Isabel, May, 1975.

80. Cheetham, I.Social Work with ImmigrantsRoutledge and Kegan Paul, London (1972) p. 201 Google Scholar.

81. Claydon in Storer op. cit. p. 55.

82. Cox, D.Migrant Youth’ unpublished paper, (n.d.) (E.M.C, files)Google Scholar

83. Panitch, A.Advocacy in Practice’ in “Social Work” Vol. 19. No. 3 (May 1974) p.331 Google Scholar.

84. Matheson, A.A Welfare Rights Program for Ethnic Groups’ on “Social Security Quarterly” Vol. 1. No. 4. (Autumn, 1974) p. 13 Google Scholar.

85. See A.C.O.S.S.PovertyA Submission to the Commonwealth Commissioner of Enquiry into Poverty, 1972 Google Scholar.