Constructing a Transformative Psychosocial Theoretical Framework of Adult Development that Informs Resettlement of Refugee Immigrants in Australia

Abstract

Across the world, including in Australia, the numbers of refugee immigrants are growing. Yet, understandings about how best their resettlement needs can be addressed remain unclear and under-informed. The Australian federal government, through its Humanitarian Program, aims at offering refugee immigrants safe and productive environments for such resettlement objectives. However, despite being in relatively safe environments, adult refugee immigrants in Australia continue to experience poor educational, occupational, and social resettlement outcomes. These three outcomes have been identified as amongst key indicators of successful resettlement for immigrants in a new country. The poor resettlement outcomes for adult refugee immigrants in Australia may be due to compounded effects of their possible traumatic and difficult past refugee life experiences, current distressing and challenging resettlement experiences, as well as the dissonances between earlier life experiences and what makes for effective engagement in a resettlement country, such as Australia.