Carol Irizarry

Promoting modern technology and internet access for under-represented older populations

Abstract Bridging the Gap, a South Australian research based program, was designed to introduce the concepts of modern technology and some Internet skills to people over 55. Target populations included people in rural areas, those with a first language other than English and people who were frail or had a disability. Informal, interactive, hands-on sessions were developed which demonstrated the concepts underpinning modern computer-based devices and their applications in society. Major findings indicated that most participants identified feeling less anxious and more confident about using modern technology after the program and that they were using a new range of computer-based skills.

Beyond mere presence-making diversity work

This article reports on a project that examined the academic and social experiences of international social work students by tracking and exploring the points they identified as being the most stressful over their time at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. Using group consultation and individual semi-structured feed-back sessions, several common themes emerged that students reported as creating high stress; namely language comprehension, adapting to new teaching methods, finding culturally appropriate means of seeking help, and integrating into a new social setting. Students were also able to clearly identify the time periods when they felt most stressed; these being the first semester, exam periods and field placements. This study reports upon the rich descriptions obtained from these students including what they described as helpful in a new academic environment. Many of their responses paralleled the literature in regard to finding confidence and competency in foreign academic and social settings.

Access to mobile communications by older people.

To investigate how older people effectively identify, select and learn to use mobile communications technologies to enhance communication and safety, and support independent living.

Fun Days Out: Normalising social experiences for refugee children

Abstract A program called Fun Days Out which offers normalising social experiences for refugee children is presented and reviewed. The evidence for a recreational approach to recovery from trauma through community integration for refugee children in South Australia is examined, focusing on the literature about traumatised children, resilience, community development and relevant social work theory. The article concludes that the program foundations and operations are well-supported in the literature and calls for further research, especially program evaluation which measures the lasting impacts of intervention, as the basis for expansion in this model of working with vulnerable children and young people.

Kinship care: Child safety or easy option? Staff and carers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT Formal kinship care continues to grow in Australia, demanding more research into its characteristics and organizational practice. This research aimed to gain a better understanding of kinship care, its practice issues, and its role in the South Australian alternative care system. Quantitative and qualitative methods, including an online staff survey (n = 81), staff focus groups (n = 56), and interviews and focus groups with Aboriginal (n = 11) and non-Aboriginal (n = 33) kinship carers were used to gain insight into staff and carers’ experiences of kinship care, and of working with each other and the care organization. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses generated the findings. All participants focused on achieving child safety and the child’s best interests through kinship care. They agreed that kinship care is a valuable, but complex and under-resourced alternative to foster care. They called for more training and support for kinship carers and staff to develop mutual respect and trust to effectively address kinship care’s unique, complex, family, community, and cultural issues. The research concluded that greater resources, organizational support, and sharing and valuing of diverse knowledge and experience are needed to facilitate safe, stable kinship care that is also in the child’s best interests.

Reclaiming Stolen Identities: Resilience and Social Justice in Mid-Life

SUMMARY This report discusses the work with a group of former British child migrant women as they took steps towards unravelling the effects of traumatic childhood experiences which still exerted unwanted influences on mid-life years. The Loss and Grief Centre in Adelaide South Australia (a partnership between Anglicare South Australia and Flinders University) sponsored this group and shared their search for meaning in the devastating act of being shipped to Australia as unaccompanied British minors who were robbed in the process of identifying background information. Now in their 50s the women had survived experiences of dislocation, loss, trauma, and deception regarding their true identity perpetuated by governments and the church-based receiving institution. In their resilience they reunited to try to collectively make sense of their past. Interpersonal and group social work interventions brought forth some of the deeply buried anguish and trauma that had remained unnamed for years but seemed to penetrate only superficial layers of emotions. Gradually through collective activities the social injustices were named in a more public formal context and the link between grief, trauma, and social justice became more apparent. Even after 40 years the trauma could not be resolved nor the grief fully expressed without connecting the intensity of reactions to the lack of acknowledgement and recognition of the injustice and inhumanity they had received as children. Despite various inquiries and documentation of the historical events a more personal connection between themselves as child victims and adult resilient survivors needed to emerge and this defined the social work helping role.

Providing culturally safe care in the best interests of unaccompanied humanitarian minors

Abstract Background: The increasing number of unaccompanied humanitarian minors in Australia demands research into their best care options. Aims: This paper reports empirical South Australian research that aimed to give voice to carers’ concerns about providing appropriate care to unaccompanied humanitarian minors (UHM), and UHMs’ perceptions of how their care meets their best interests during transition to life in Australia. Materials and Methods: Semi-structured questionnaires were used to interview 22 carers and 17 Afghani male UHMs. Results: Thematic analysis revealed carers’key concerns were achieving a balance between the UHMs’ cultural safety and fitting into the Australian social context, providing UHMs with sufficient psychological support, and training. Discussion: The UHMs felt their best interests were largely met but requested broader opportunities for education, mixing with Australians and learning living skills, and expressed concern about their accommodation when they began living independently at age 18. Conclusion: Culturally safe care alone may not meet UHMs’ best interests. Care policy and carer training need to incorporate UHMs’ and UHMs’ carers’ perspectives.