Moving to Australia With Children - Settlement Strategies

Some of the key issues for children relocating to Australia may be:

1) Language barriers

Even with English language proficiency, which educational institutes require for enrollment, children may find Australian slang and style of language difficult to comprehend at first. Many foreigners finding the Australian accent quite broad with elongated vowel tones eg. 'say' is often pronounced as 'saaay'. The use of sarcasm, irreverence, self-deprecating humour, mischievousness and disregard for rigid norms of propriety can also be found within Australian classrooms and school yards. Phrases such as 'Good onya' and 'No worries mate' can be used both positively and sarcastically which can be confusing for newcomers.

It is also common for students to assign nicknames to their classmates, especially males, which is often done in Australia by extending or shortening someone's surname. eg. Peter White is likely to become 'Whitey' and Tim Robinson 'Robbo'. This practice is not seen as disrespectful but rather a ritual of mateship.

2) Different school system and education style and expectations

The approach used within Australian schools and further education institutions may be perceived as different to other countries. For example Australian educators & trainers may:

* Actively encourage students to problem solve and learn through questioning

* Require less memorising and more practical based learning

* Focus on developing students interest and enthusiasm for learning

* Require students to have good self-discipline

* Provide regular feedback to students about their studies and behaviour

* Encourage individual thinking and participation

* Hold regular class discussions and debates

* Place emphasis on personal, intellectual and emotional growth

* Assess the above as part of student's grades

If a student is not used to this type of learning then it may impact their self-esteem and confidence. This approach can be particularly challenging for children from Asian and other non-European backgrounds who may be used to a more formal school room setting. Australian students usually call their teachers by their first names, with the exception of young children who use titles such as 'Mr', 'Mrs' or 'Ms', or those attending more prestigious schools where 'Sir' and 'Madam' may still be the tradition.

3) Leaving friends and making new ones

It can be daunting to move to a new school even within the same area, let alone another country like Australia. While Australians are generally friendly to newcomers, there can still be some students who may not be as welcoming, perhaps even being racist or bullying.

The distance between Australia and other countries can also impact the opportunities to visit old friends, compatible time zones for phone calls, and the costs of communicating long distance. When Australian students are finishing school for the day, their overseas friends are likely to be getting ready to head off to school.

To help children settle in Australia, the following strategies are suggested:

a) Communication

Prepare the children for what their life in Australia will be like. Talk about Australian specific activities such as Australian Rules Football (AFL), swimming on Australian beaches such as on the Gold Coast in Queensland, as well as things they may look forward to such as seeing Australian kangaroos, koalas and platypus. Getting children to draw, paint or write about their impressions of Australia can be helpful eg. Australian animals and famous landmarks like Sydney's Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Read stories about Australia, particularly well-known Australian books so they may know similar stories and characters to their Australian peers. The Children's Book Council of Australia's website details some popular books. Watch Australian TV, movies and DVDs that are suitable for their age group. The Wiggles, Bindi the Jungle Girl, Neighbours, Home & Away are just a few.

Maintain open lines of communication throughout the move process. Contact the Australian school's student services, or school counsellors for further advice or research online. Australian schools are required to deal with bullying and racism in line with Australian legislation on child protection and welfare, and each school can provide further guidance on the programs they have in place.

b) Involvement

Children will not be able to help in all areas of the move to Australia, however where they can assist it is a good idea. It will make them feel more in control and part of the relocation. Involve children in the discussions and decision-making where appropriate, which many Australian parents would do. Children can also help with practical activities if able such as determining what to pack for Australia. Discussions about clothing will also be useful. For example 'thongs' are worn on the feet but are also underwear, and 'budgie smugglers' are tight-fitting short bathers but are seen as suitable only for competitive swimmers and lifeguards (a teenager wouldn't be caught dead in a pair on the beach).

Give children an opportunity to explore Australia before arriving. Look at websites to see where they will be living, as well as pictures of Australian landscapes, houses, schools and shops. This will help children to become more familiar with their new environment. Google Earth can provide some great visuals of Australia including aerial views. Try entering the route from the airport to the initial destination eg. Sydney airport to Sydney Harbour and watch the 'aerial flight' together so it becomes more familiar. Likewise the route to and from school.

Many Australian schools have websites which parents and children should explore together. Providing as much advance knowledge as possible will help them to feel more secure about the changes that are happening. Websites will usually outline the type of subjects they will be undertaking, what the school uniform is like, and pictures of students participating in different activities.

Get children involved in their new life once in Australia. Children often adjust more easily to a new environment than adults as they are more intensely involved in the life of the new society. Australian school life, for example, provides a great opportunity to make friends and therefore to integrate into the life of a new community.

c) Timing

It may be better for younger children to be told closer to the time so less build up of stress, especially if there is risk of them telling others before appropriate. Some children may respond favourably to the move, so can be told earlier. It may depend a lot on how well they have handled changes in the past, and how well they deal with stress, making new friends etc.

It is also important not to communicate items until they are finalised eg. what school they will be going to, as changes may cause confusion and concern.

If possible, relocate to Australia the beginning of a new school term. This allows children to start the new school year fresh, instead of having to endure being 'the new kid' in the middle of a term.

The Australian academic school year starts in late January/early February and finishes in late December. The year is divided into four terms in most states & territories, with each term lasting for around ten weeks. Tasmania has three terms which are therefore longer in duration.

There are short 2-3 week breaks between most terms, except for the long summer holiday period at the end of the school year from late December. Private schools, including Catholic schools, may slightly vary their holiday breaks so specific information should be obtained directly from each school.

Schools also have student free days each year for curriculum & school development. Only teachers attend on these days, so parents need to provide care for their children if they are not independent enough to be at home on their own.

d) Making New Friends

Children need to be encouraged to make new friends, but also to maintain contact with old friends who can provide familiarity, especially if the child will be returning to the old location in the future. Once settled in a new home, consider hosting a welcoming celebration or party for children's friends and their parents.

In Australia it is common courtesy to meet the parents of children's friends, so parents may want to meet you before allowing their child to visit at your house with your child/ren. However meeting other parents can also provide an opportunity to start developing support networks or advice on settling children in Australia.

A useful website is http://www.kidspot.com.au/schoolzone/index.asp.

e) Explore Feelings

Children will have similar feeling to adults when faced with a relocation, including sadness, apprehension, anxiety and home sickness. It can also be stressful to find themselves in an unfamiliar Australian environment, perhaps learning different Australian school subjects than they are used to creating further apprehension and lack of self-confidence.

Their feelings may even be stronger as they may not be able to balance their thoughts as well. It is important to let children talk through their fears, anxiety and concerns, and provide as much comfort as possible. They should feel secure and encouraged to talk about their concerns.

Children are naturally adventurous and can also become very excited about their new life in Australia. This needs to be balanced with their commitments to current studies and friends.

Australia has a Kids Helpline website that provides useful information and support by phone, website or email.

f) Organise Farewells

If children will be having an upcoming birthday or holiday in Australia that they had previously planned to have at home, allow them to have an early celebration with their friends before leaving if possible. If not possible, consider celebrating in Australia upon arrival with Australian flag & animal decorations and party food such as pavlova, Tim Tams and Caramello Koala chocolates.

Remind them to collect email and home addresses, so that they can keep in touch with friends after the move. This may need to be done on behalf of younger children. Planning a goodbye sleepover or small break for children at a trusted contact's house may also provide parents with time to undertake tasks such as packing.

g) Provide Ongoing Support in Australia

Children will often need help to integrate into Australia, especially if attending school and at the age where they need to make new friends. Parents can fall into the trap of focusing on all the tasks that need to be done upon arrival, however should also dedicate time to helping children to settle.

This task also applies to any children who have remained overseas eg. for educational reasons, who will also need to integrate into that new lifestyle. These activities should be undertaken within the first few weeks of arrival to help make the transition easier from the start, and then ongoing as needed.

Review the children who are impacted and what issues & concerns there may be. Research ways to minimise these and help the children to deal with the changes they face.

Research shows that focusing on strengthening family bonds can be beneficial for relocating children. Reinforce ties by verbalising parental support, love and commitment to making the move a success for the child.

The Australian 'Raising Children' website can be another great source of information - http://raisingchildren.net.au/school_age/school_age.html.

Immigrating to Australia as a family is very different to relocating as a single person or couple, so it is good to be prepared for the challenges and enjoyment this may bring.

There are many elements to moving to Australia with children successfully. In addition to settlement strategies, there are educational, recreational and health issues to consider to name a few. Moving2plan's unique online relocation tool can provide valuable assistance. Take a free tour or learn more about the application at http://www.moving2plan.com.au.