Middle Eastern Refugee Mothers in Regional Australia: Language Education and the Challenge of Integration

Mothers are the heart of the household and vital to the wellbeing of families and society. Across the globe, refugee mothers continue to support their families and communities, while their lives are shattered by forced migration. Middle Eastern Refugee Mothers (MERMs) are in a uniquely challenging situation as their homelands and their resettlement contexts are often extremely different. These women confront complex challenges following resettlement, with the language barrier being a major impediment. English language proficiency is recognised as a vital aspect of successful integration, which either promotes or hinders an individual’s capacity to engage in and be included in their new environment. This chapter explores the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) offered by the Australian Government and implemented by local language providers for the learning needs of MERMs in a regional town in Australia. While multiple challenges including no or limited educational backgrounds, major cultural differences, mental health problems, and inadequate technology access exacerbated the difficulties of these mothers’ language acquisition, the AMEP itself was found unsuitable for these particular learners. This chapter considers the possibilities and potential of a more flexible English language programme and discusses implementation strategies that could more successfully support the diverse learning needs of this cohort. It suggests policy changes that would support such a programme and provide more opportunities for each of these individuals to succeed while accommodating their diverse context and learning needs.