Episode 8: Building social capital and fostering active citizenship for new Australians
In this episode, Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute chats to Grace Williams, founder of Citizen Tasmania about the organisation's work and its efforts to support migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in resettling in Tasmania. The conversation delves into the challenges these individuals face, the role of education and social capital in their integration, and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging in a new environment. Citizen Tasmania's mission is to empower these communities to gain social capital, express themselves, and feel part of Australian culture, addressing the gaps in resettlement that hinder their ability to thrive.
Grace shares that her strong belief in the power of education, ingrained during her upbringing in West Africa, played a crucial role in her resettlement experience in Tasmania. She explained that being literate allowed her to better understand and engage with her new environment, making her transition easier compared to others who might lack such skills. This experience fuelled her passion for advocating education as the foundation for successful resettlement, as it provides the necessary tools to reflect, ask questions, and make informed choices. As a law graduate and winner of a social justice bursary, Grace worked to amplify the voices of those less literate in human rights, further deepening her commitment to supporting educational attainment for others.
Key takeaways:
Empowering through education and literacy: One of Citizen Tasmania's main initiatives is supporting literacy in communities where functional literacy rates are alarmingly low, around 48%. The organisation recognises education as a crucial foundation for resettlement, enabling individuals to better understand their new environment, integrate more effectively, and achieve their aspirations. However, Tasmania’s education system faces significant challenges, particularly in helping new arrivals attain the necessary literacy skills and complete their education. Many families struggle due to a lack of structured literacy teaching and support in English, which hampers their ability to navigate the system and succeed academically. Citizen Tasmania works to fill these gaps by providing bilingual and digital literacy support, especially for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, who face additional barriers due to changes in technology and artificial intelligence.
The challenge of social integration: Social cohesion and integration are vital for the successful resettlement of migrants and refugees. Tasmania, with its small population and limited cultural infrastructure, presents unique challenges for retaining people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Despite Tasmania's natural beauty and the potential for closer social connections, the lack of a supportive environment makes it difficult for these individuals to feel like they truly belong. Citizen Tasmania addresses these issues by fostering social connections within the community and working to shift the perception that migrants are perpetual foreigners. The organisation advocates for a model of citizenship that recognises the contributions of migrants and refugees and integrates them as full members of Australian society.
Addressing systemic barriers: Migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers often come to Australia with high expectations for their children's education and future opportunities. However, the existing system is not always equipped to meet these expectations, particularly in Tasmania. Citizen Tasmania works to manage these expectations and assists young people in achieving educational milestones such as Year 12 certificates and university entrance. The organisation also collaborates with local councils and government agencies to design policies that specifically target the gaps in the system, aiming to create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. This work is crucial in ensuring that Tasmania can attract and retain individuals from diverse backgrounds, ultimately contributing to the state’s growth and cultural richness.
The importance of social capital: Social capital—the networks, relationships, and trust within a community—is often overlooked in discussions about resettlement. For migrants and refugees, building social capital is essential for their wellbeing and integration into their new environment. Citizen Tasmania places a strong emphasis on helping individuals build social capital by creating opportunities for them to connect with others, share their experiences, and contribute to their communities. This not only helps to reduce the isolation that many migrants feel, but also empowers them to take an active role in their new community. The organisation’s efforts to promote social capital are a key part of its broader mission to support social cohesion and integration in Tasmania.
Reframing citizenship and belonging: The episode also explores the concept of citizenship and how it relates to the identity and belonging of migrants and refugees in Australia. Grace argues that citizenship shouldn’t be seen as a static status, but as an ongoing relational journey that involves integrating into a new culture while maintaining one’s own cultural identity. Citizen Tasmania pushes back against the notion that migrants and refugees are perpetual outsiders, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of citizenship that recognises the diverse contributions these individuals make to Australian society. This reframing of citizenship is crucial for creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment in Tasmania, where everyone can feel like they truly belong.
Tune into our podcast for more insights from Grace and Anthea’s discussion. Listen to the full episode here or watch below!