Wendy Harte

Settlement Patterns of African Refugee Communities in Southeast Queensland

Abstract Over 4000 African refugees have resettled in Queensland through the Australian governments Humanitarian Program. Research on the settlement geography of this immigrant group is, however, limited. The present study is set within the context of research and debates concerning the residential concentration and/or dispersion patterns of immigrant settlement in Australia. The paper investigates the settlement and secondary migration geography of eight African refugee communities in Southeast Queensland. Discrepancies are identified between the official data and the actual distribution according to community members’ views obtained via focus group surveys and interviews. Preliminary results indicate that there is a relatively high rate of secondary migration in the African communities. The paper also discusses the two key factors underpinning this secondary migration: housing and social networks. These findings have implications for settlement service providers, particularly in the area of housing.

African refugee communities in Southeast Queensland: Forces of concentration and dispersion

Abstract Black African refugee communities are a relatively recent addition to the Australia landscape. Between 2001 and 2007, over 5000 refugees from various African nations resettled in Queensland. There are very few data about African refugee settlement geography in Australia and no previous study delineating African refugee settlement within the State of Queensland. This research addresses the knowledge gap by examining the geographic distribution and secondary migration patterns of eight African refugee communities in Southeast Queensland. The research adopted a multi-method approach, mapping quantitative data from an existing secondary database and comparing these to qualitative primary data to determine geographical distribution. Additional qualitative data were used to establish secondary migration patterns of the case study communities. Results show noticeable discrepancies between existing secondary datasets and primary data collected from the communities. These inconsistencies are significant because settlement service providers who use the secondary data to budget, plan and deliver essential settlement services might be underestimating the size of the African communities and missing some settlement locations altogether. The results also reveal a tension between the main socio-cultural forces of concentration and housing forces of dispersion that are driving secondary migration in the communities. A policy recommendation to mitigate the potentially negative effects of residential dispersion on settlement outcomes includes the strategic location of service hubs in key suburbs, such as Moorooka, to which the communities are already drawn.

Geography pre-service teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge

ABSTRACT This paper reports on an exploratory study that investigated the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of four Geography pre-service teachers as they completed their final practicum of their Bachelor of Secondary Education programme. It uses Shulman’s (1986, 1987) two categories of PCK as a conceptual framework to identify the participants’ PCK of their Geography teaching. The first type of PCK is teachers’ representations of content that is pedagogically powerful for students; the second type of PCK refers to teachers’ understanding of what makes the learning of specific topics easy or difficult for students. Historically, researchers have tended to focus on the teachers’ representations component of PCK while little evidence-based research has been reported on the second category of PCK. Findings from this study show that all participants demonstrated both types of PCK. This study sheds light on the importance of teacher-educators modelling both types of PCK as both are equally important for pre-service teachers.

International Students' Accented English-Communication Difficulties and Developed Strategies.

Abstract The purpose of the present investigation is to explore the communication challenges caused by accented English along with strategies of international students in the Australian context. A quantitative approach was employed in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the linguistic experience of the students. Participants comprised 182 international students who spoke English as a second language and were undertaking undergraduate and postgraduate programs at three universities in South East Queensland. Results revealed that they experienced accent-related problems particularly in an educational setting. Their preferred strategies to overcome such difficulties were in conflict with what they regarded as the most effective strategies.

“Doing Geography”: Evaluating an Independent Geographic Inquiry Assessment Task in an Initial Teacher Education Program

Abstract The assessment task of the final course in a bachelor of secondary education program is examined for opportunities for preservice geography teachers to achieve the course aims of integrating, consolidating, applying, and reflecting on the knowledge and skills they have learned during their initial teacher education program. The results show that the preservice teachers did better in some areas (integrating, consolidating, and reflecting) than in others (applying). This has implications for curriculum renewal in geography methods courses—specifically to provide more opportunities for preservice teachers to practice applying the knowledge and skills they have gained during the program, essential for their future roles as senior geography teachers.

Barriers to risk reduction: Dontse Yakhe, South Africa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify hazard risks and factors impeding the implementation of disaster risk management policies and strategies in Dontse Yakhe in Hout Bay, South Africa. Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach was selected for this research. Interviews were conducted with community leaders and other relevant government and civil society stakeholders. Insights and perceptions of Dontse Yakhe residents were obtained from a focus group interview. Secondary data sources were reviewed and field observations made. Findings – The findings reveal a number of key risks and a complex web of geographical, political, social and environmental factors, and stakeholder interactions, prioritisations and decision making that has created barriers to the implementation of the aims and objectives of disaster risk management policies and strategies in Dontse Yakhe. Originality/value – The contribution of the research is that it provides insight into the complex factors that are stallin...