The ‘symbolic violence’ of refugee language training in Australia

Abstract

Reasonable host language proficiency has been shown as a key factor determining successful social and economic inclusion of refugee migrants within their new society. Many countries who provide settlement to refugee migrants thus offer them instruction in the host language of their new country. In Australia, refugee migrants are offered English training in the form of  the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), and the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program. However, this paper argues that these training programs largely fail to meet the needs of refugee migrants who settle in Australia. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews with eight male Muslim refugee migrants were used to collect data centred on a single research question – What are the perspectives of male Muslim refugees on the effectiveness of their English training programs in facilitating their settlement and employment in Australia? The findings are framed using the theoretical notions of Pierre Bourdieu, and suggest that the English training programs set the migrants up for failure, both in what is absent and what is offered within these programs. Most of these migrants remain in a position of social disadvantage in Australian society and are subject to an ongoing cycle of symbolic violence. Policy implications are considered.