Transit to connection : aspirations and identities of asylum seeking young people

The Australian Government aims to facilitate social inclusion of young people. In this paper we explore, with a sample of young refugees who were previously detained as asylum seekers those factors which they have identified as important in their transition to, and connectedness with the broader Australian community. Issues of identity and connection emerged as important to them, but problematic in terms of current social arrangements for refugees. This article presents the results of the qualitative section of a larger piece of research examining the mental health of young asylum seekers. Here we present from an exploration with young asylum seekers who have been detained, but have now achieved refugee status, those factors which they have identified as important for their sense of who they are and for their transition to Australian society. Their early experience in Australia is discussed in terms of attempts to negotiate a 'belonging' and the structural barriers they describe to its attainment. We discuss what identities are on offer for young people emerging from this asylum seeking process and how they anticipate their future in Australia. A need for a transformation in the State's responses around the social inclusion of young refugees is highlighted.