This policy paper explores the complex challenges faced by multicultural families in Australia, particularly those from migrant and refugee backgrounds. It highlights how migration journeys often disrupt traditional family dynamics, placing youth at the intersection of cultural expectations and societal integration. Young people frequently become cultural intermediaries, navigating both their heritage and the norms of the host country, which can lead to inter-generational tensions and misunderstandings.
The paper identifies several key triggers for youth disengagement, including excessive academic pressure from parents, restricted social freedoms, limited access to culturally responsive services, and systemic racism—especially within educational institutions. These factors contribute to a breakdown in familial relationships and hinder young people’s ability to make informed life choices, form secure relationships, and develop a stable cultural identity. Notably, 55% of young offenders in Queensland were found to be disengaged from education, training, or employment.
ECCQ advocates for increased awareness of inter-generational trauma, which is often inherited from experiences of torture and displacement. The paper calls for preventative interventions that promote healthy family dynamics and mutual understanding between generations. It also emphasises the importance of addressing loneliness and social isolation among multicultural women, which is exacerbated by low literacy, poor access to services, and transport barriers.
To address these issues, ECCQ recommends sustained funding for community-led initiatives like the Youth Connections Program, which supports youth and women in multicultural communities. Additionally, it calls for investment in scientific research to better understand the unique dynamics of inter-generational trauma and conflict, ensuring that policy responses are evidence-based and culturally appropriate.
