information sheet Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD)

information sheet Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) Kids Helpline defines the term Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) as referring to those individuals who identify as having a specific cultural or linguistic affiliation by virtue of their place of birth, ancestry, ethnic origin, religion, preferred language, language(s) spoken at home, or because of their parents identification on a similar basis. This definition of CALD does not include young people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. CALD people in Australia According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 32% of people living in Australia on Census night in 2011 were born overseas. The most recent Census also found that 34% of people living in Australia reported that their parents were born overseas. While most Australians speak English, 23% of people spoke another language at home. Previous ABS research has also found that 39% of those born overseas identified with a non-christian religion and this number is continually increasing 1. While cultural and linguistic diversity provides Australia with a number of advantages, children and young people from CALD backgrounds often face a number of issues that make them a vulnerable social group. CALD children and young people are a highly diverse group and their specific issues may differ depending on the particular cultural group with which they identify. This information sheet has been prepared to highlight the needs of this group of youth and to demonstrate how BoysTown responds to their concerns. Issues affecting CALD children and young people For CALD young people and their families, migrating to Australia or arriving in this country as refugees can be seen as both a challenging and momentous occasion. While those entering the country may have chosen to migrate here with their families, others may be escaping war, conflict or famine, and may be doing so with some of their family members or by themselves 2. Following their arrival into a new country, both migrants and refugees experience a number of challenges. One obstacle facing CALD children and young people is that they may find it difficult to integrate and become a part of mainstream Australian culture. l

According to research, CALD young people may struggle to maintain important traditional cultural practices either because these are not fostered by the mainstream (including the recognition of important cultural/religious holidays) or they may be in conflict with the values and norms of Australian culture 3. This makes it more difficult for CALD children and young people to feel connected to both their traditional and Australian culture, and may lead to them feeling like they re living double lives 4. Research has demonstrated that being able to successfully negotiate both cultural identities, particularly for those that feel a strong connection to their original culture, is an important developmental stage for CALD youth and has implications for their psychological well being 5. For some CALD young people, language barriers can exacerbate the difficulty they experience in integrating into mainstream Australian society. For those who find it difficult to navigate the complexities of modern Australian culture, some may find themselves having difficulty understanding and could even unintentionally violate mainstream cultural practices. Gaining and retaining employment is one example of how language barriers can result in CALD youth becoming socially isolated. ABS data suggests that compared with recent migrants from a mainly English-speaking culture, migrants from a non-english-speaking culture were less likely to be employed and many of these cited language difficulties as being a major barrier to finding work 6. English proficiency among migrants was also linked to higher incomes and higher levels of education. In turn, these outcomes have an impact on a young person s ability to integrate into mainstream Australian culture, as those with English proficiency have the means to more fully participate and engage with their local community. person to embrace certain aspects of their new culture such as different expectations concerning the appropriate behaviour of young men and women in the community. While most Australians are eager to accept those from other cultures, CALD children and young people are at risk of victimisation and discrimination. A significant proportion of non-english speaking Australians and others born overseas, experience racism on a regular basis. That racism could be either direct, via racist insults, or indirect, such as by way of mistrust 7. Research has linked the perceptions of being discriminated against because of a young person s cultural background to lower rates of psychological well being 8. CALD young people and mental health Research into the mental health of young people with a CALD background has found they are often more likely to experience mental health problems, including depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 9. In addition, CALD young people often develop poor self-esteem and a lack of confidence due to experiences of discrimination or racism in their new country. For refugee young people, mental health concerns are often related to past physical, sexual or mental abuse, torture, or related to their experiences of war or conflict 10. Intergenerational conflict between CALD children and young people and their parents may also occur because of the difficulty in finding the balance between their traditional culture and their new Australian culture 3. This may include parents and carers being resistant in allowing the young 2

CALD Australians are also over-represented in suicide statistics 11. Approximately 25% of all suicides in Australia involve people born overseas 12. The ABS reported that in the 12 months prior to 30 June 2009, 2,132 people had suicided in Australia. During the same period the rate of death by suicide was 9.7 per 100,000 estimated resident population making it the fourteenth leading cause of death during 2009 13. Social isolation, bereavement, unemployment, poverty and uncertainty about the future can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness that may lead to the development of suicidal thoughts or intent 14. CALD help-seeking behaviour In spite of a higher proportion of CALD young people living in Australian capital cities compared with the general Australian population, research has found that they have a lower rate of health service utilisation 14. The Kids Helpline experience For the past two decades, Kids Helpline has been providing support to children and young people experiencing difficulties and needing support, encouragement, advice, information and service referrals. Kids Helpline collects a variety of data relating to the issues of children and young people seeking counselling and helps give a voice to their concerns. The Kids Helpline data presented is derived from demographic information and the issues and concerns of young people calling Kids Helpline. Due to the confidential nature of counselling, the cultural and linguistic background of some callers may not always be determined. This may be due to some young people choosing not to disclose their CALD status. Additionally, in crisis situations, a young person may not be asked their cultural or ethnic background. Aside from formal sources of assistance such as health services, informal sources of support including family, friends and neighbours are also important. However, due to the language barriers faced by those from non-english speaking backgrounds, CALD persons are also more likely to report having no support sources available compared with mainstream Australians and those born in English-speaking countries 15. Even those who do not experience language barriers may have difficulty finding and accessing services that are culturally appropriate. This is particularly pertinent in regional communities that may have very few if any services catering to those from a CALD background. This includes access to translating and interpreting services for those with language difficulties or access to appropriate service providers. Negative experiences such as cultural insensitivity or a failure for CALD young people to find an appropriate service for their needs may result in some young people deciding not to seek help in the future 10. Number of counselling sessions Figure 1 Number and proportion of KHL counselling sessions with a CALD young person 2008-2011 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 0 17% 16% 3,895 21% 4,156 6,170 25% 2008 2009 2010 2011 Year 6,838 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Proportion of counselling sessions Year 3

Of the 64,442 counselling sessions conducted during 2011, the young person s cultural background was recorded by the counsellor in 43% of sessions (a)(b). As such, the true number of counselling sessions with young people from a CALD background is likely to be somewhat higher than the sample used in these analyses. Over the last four years, approximately 21,000 Kids Helpline counselling sessions involved a young person known to be from a CALD background. Figure 1 shows an overall increase in the number and proportion of sessions with young CALD people contacting Kids Helpline during that period. In 2011, there were 6,838 counselling sessions involving a CALD young person. This figure represents 25% of all counselling sessions where a cultural background was known. The following analyses are based on the 6,838 counselling sessions known to be with a young person from a CALD background in 2011. Further information about issues of concern was obtained from a sample of 100 counsellor-recorded case notes where the young person s cultural background was known to be CALD. Age and gender In 2011, 80% of CALD young people contacting Kids Helpline were female. In terms of the age, almost three quarters of counselling sessions occurred with CALD children and young people aged between 15 and 25 years with the remainder aged between five and 14 years. This is reflective of all contacts to Kids Helpline. Regional and remote young people In 2011, 90% of the counselling sessions involving young CALD people came from metropolitan areas (see Figure 2). An examination of patterns of resettlement for refugees and new migrants found that the majority of CALD Australian s live in major cities, often living in the same areas as family members that have arrived before them, or living in established community enclaves 16. It is, therefore, unsurprising that the majority of CALD sessions came from metropolitan areas. However, it is also important that young CALD people in regional and remote areas are able to access services like Kids Helpline due to a potential lack of culturally appropriate services in smaller country towns. Figure 2 Proportion of KHL counselling sessions, by CALD status and geographic location 2011 Metropolitan Type of support Regional 10% 32% 68% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Kids Helpline provides counselling to those seeking one-off or occasional counselling as well as longer term counselling to those for more complex issues. Where necessary, counsellors provide an integrated case management approach that enables the provision of wrap-around care and the involvement of external services. During 2011, 55% of young people with a CALD background received ongoing or case managed support from Kids Helpline. Due to their past histories and experiences, young CALD people may require ongoing assistance. This figure was 22% higher than the rate of ongoing counselling for all clients (45%). 90% CALD Non CALD 4

What are the issues of CALD youth? For each counselling session, Kids Helpline counsellors record the young person s primary reason for making contact on that occasion. While multiple issues may be raised during counselling, the top 10 primary concerns for CALD children and young people in 2011 are displayed in Figure 3. Figure 3 Top 10 counselling concerns for all CALD young people 2011 Family relationships Emotional wellbeing and magaging responses Mental health concerns 12% 17% 16% Partner relationships 10% Relationships with friends and peers 9% Child abuse 6% Suicide related concerns 5% Study issues 5% Bullying (school context) 3% Grief and loss 2% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% The case notes revealed that a number of CALD young people also experienced feelings of depression, anxiety and a desire to control these feelings through self-harm or, in some cases, resulted in suicidal thoughts and feelings. Family relationships were the most common concern for CALD young people in 2011. Emotional wellbeing and managing responses were the second most commonly reported issue, while discussions about mental health concerns were also common. In line with the concerns presented in Figure 3, a qualitative analysis of case notes (c) revealed many of the sessions with CALD young people related to ongoing conflict with their parents. Many young CALD people felt overwhelmed by their parent s expectations regarding religion, a strict upbringing, and traditional cultural practices around dating, gender roles, and sibling responsibility. These feelings led to the young people feeling frustrated and often resulted in conflict. Additionally, a number of the case notes examined included young people disclosing domestic violence between their parents. For some young people, domestic violence was something that occurred regularly and they were seeking information about ways to stop their parents fighting or how to protect themselves. Other case notes focused on their relationships with partners, friends and other young people at their school. While bullying or discrimination were discussed in some cases, more commonly, young people talked about fights they were having with friends, or difficulties making and keeping friends. It was evident from the content of these discussions that social interaction and acceptance was important, particularly for those young people who had left friends when they came to Australia. 5

Position on assisting people from CALD backgrounds Kids Helpline plays an active role in providing assistance and support to children and young people throughout Australia. Counsellors assist clients through counselling to voice their fears and concerns, overcome distress, or to manage their emotions. Kids Helpline counsellors may offer CALD young people a number of different strategies they can use to help with their individual concerns. For young people from CALD backgrounds who are experiencing suicidal thoughts, behaviours or self-harm, counsellors will assess the risk of harm and subsequently develop a safety plan. In cases where a young person is deemed to be at imminent risk, Kids Helpline may enact our duty-of-care obligations and contact the emergency services in order to ensure the young person s safety. Using geographic specific searching, counsellors can access information regarding available services in the young person s local area. BoysTown, using the information gathered from Kids Helpline counsellors, undertakes a range of research and advocacy work in order to raise community awareness about both general youth issues and those matters impacting on CALD youth. As the CALD community continues to increase in size and diversity, it is imperative that culturally appropriate services are available to all CALD Australians. In order to achieve this, new services will need to be created in regional and remote areas, and across Australia, existing programs and organisations will also need to ensure their services are culturally accessible and meet the needs of this vulnerable group. Counsellors may also offer a referral if there is a need for the young person to be supported by an external service. For CALD young people, this may involve finding a culturally appropriate service, or an interpreting service for those experiencing difficulties due to a language barrier. Helpful links/resources The Centre for Multicultural Youth: http://www.cmy.net.au/ The Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia: http://www.fecca.org.au/ Transcultural Mental Health Centre: http://www.dhi.gov.au/tmhc/default.aspx Translating and Interpreting Service (National): http://www.immi.gov.au/living-inaustralia/help-with english/help_with_translating/ Suggested citation Notes a) For the purpose of these analyses, counselling sessions involving those who identified as being from an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background were recorded as being non-cald. b) Please note: Counselling sessions involving young people whose CALD status was unknown, were excluded from this analysis. c) 100 case notes of contacts involving a CALD young person were analysed. BoysTown (2012). Kids Helpline Information Sheet: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Young People: Sourced at www.kidshelp.com.au 6

References 1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007) Catalogue 2070.0 - A Picture of the Nation: the Statistician s Report on the 2006 Census, 2006. Accessed online: 5 March 2012. 2. Mason, D. (YEAR). The experience of Homelessness for CALD young people in Melbourne s West, Footscray Youth Housing Group. 3. Youth Affairs Council of South Australia. (2006). Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Young People: Policy Platform. 4. Black Dog Institute. Information for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Young People and their Families: Recognising the signs of depression and tips for young people in self-managing and seeking help. Accessed online: 5 March 2012. 5. Sawrikar, P., & Hunt, C. (2005) The relationship between mental health, cultural identity and cultural values in non-english speaking (NESB) background Australian adolescents. Behaviour Change, 22(2), 97 113. 6. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007) Catalogue 3416.0 Perspectives on Migrants: Migrants and English Proficiency. Accessed online: 5 March 2012. 7. Dunn, K. (2003). Racism in Australia: findings of a survey on racist attitudes and experiences of racism, Paper presented to conference entitled The Challenges of Immigration and Integration in the European Union and Australia, Sydney: Australia. 8. Pachter, L., Bernstein, B., Szalacha, L., Garcia Coll, C. (2010). Perceived Racism and Discrimination in Children and Youths: An Exploratory Study. Health & Social Work, Vol. 35, Iss. 1, pp 61-70. 9. Brough, M., Gorman, D., Ramirez, E., and Westoby, P. (2003). Young Refugees talk about Well-being: A qualitative analysis of refugee youth mental health from three states, Australian Journal of Social Issues 38(2): 193 209. 10. Office of Multicultural Interests. (2009). Not drowning, waving : Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Young People at Risk in Western Australia. 11. Stephens-Reicher, J., Metcalf, A., Blanchard, M., Mangan, C., and Burns, J. (2011). Reaching the hardto-reach: how information communication technologies can reach young people at greater risk of mental health difficulties. Australasian Psychiatry, Vol. 19, Iss: S1, pps58-s61. 12. Living is for Everyone (2010). LIFE News issue 10: culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD). Accessed online: http://www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/life- News-issue-10-Culturally-and-Linguistically- Diverse-CALD-.html -773_AR_Deaths-of_C+YP_2010-11_WEB.pdf] 13. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2003) Catalogue 3303.0 Causes of Death, Australia. Accessed online: 5 March 2012. 14. Rooney, R., Wright, B., and O Neil, K. (2006). Issues faced by carers of people with a mental illness from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds: Carers and practitioners perceptions, Australian ejournal for the Advancement of Mental Health, Vol. 5, Iss., 2, 1-13. 15. Knox, S., and Britt, H. (2002). A comparison of general practice encounters with patients from English-speaking and non-english-speaking backgrounds, Medical Journal of Australia, Vol. 177, Iss. 1, 98-101. 16. Mason, R. (2010). Australian Multiculturalism: Revisiting Australia s Political Heritage and the Migrant Presence, History Compass, Vol. 8, Iss. 8, pp 817-827. 11.4.13 7