Intercultural Communication Challenges Confronting Female Sudanese Former Refugees in Australia

Abstract

Since 2001, Australia has accepted a significant number of refugees and humanitarian entrants from Sudan, displaced as a result of two decades of continuous civil war in their homeland. This exploratory qualitative study contributes to a better understanding of female Sudanese former refugees living in Southeast Queensland, Australia, by examining the intercultural communication challenges that confront them as part of resettlement. Two focus groups were conducted with a total of 28 female Sudanese former refugees. The study investigated the challenges that confronted these women in Australia with regard to cross-cultural adaptation. Several complex, intercultural themes emerged in the interviews such as parenting challenges, marital problems, low English language competency, employment issues, and successfully settling in the host community. Their narratives are understood through the lens of various intercultural communication theories.