Supporting refugee women in Australia requires behaviour practitioners to navigate complex barriers involving language, culture and trauma. Refugee women's experiences of displacement, gender-based violence, and marginalization demand culturally responsive, trauma-informed practice. “To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.”, Confucius. Building on the author’s personal and professional insights and recent research, this article examines the barriers to effective behaviour support for refugee women in Australia and presents evidence-based strategies to enhance culturally responsive and trauma-informed practice.
Behaviour support professionals in Australia play a vital role in helping refugees, but their effectiveness is often prevented by a plethora of challenges rooted in cultural, linguistic and trauma-related factors. These obstacles require a different understanding of the complexities this vulnerable demography faces.
Cultural differences pose a fundamental challenge, as professionals must navigate the various cultural landscapes that shape refugees' experiences and expectations. Pereiro et al. (2023) emphasize that service providers should be particularly sensitive to the intersection of disability and cultural identity, highlighting the specific challenges faced by deaf refugees who have undergone gender violence. Such individuals can experience composed marginalization, and understanding the cultural context is fundamental. Traditional approaches to behaviour support may not resonate with individuals of cultures where social norms differ significantly.
In addition, the influence of sociocultural norms around gender roles complicates the dynamics of trauma expression and the willingness to engage with support systems. Segrave et al. (2024) and Papoutsi et al. (2022) illustrate that these norms usually dictate how women should behave in response to their trauma and victimization experiences.
Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose.” – Michelle Rosenthal.
In some cultures, women can be socialized to remain stoic or not disclose their trauma due to fears of shame or stigma. This cultural conditioning can make it difficult for professionals and refugees to build trust, thereby complicating evaluation and intervention processes. Consequently, professionals may encounter resistance or reluctance, which can complicate their ability to provide effective support.
Linguistic barriers further exacerbate these challenges, as many refugee women may not speak English fluently or lack access to interpreters who can navigate the complexities of emotional dialogue. Limited language proficiency can obstruct effective communication, preventing professionals from accurately evaluating their clients' needs and experiences. A
As reported by Papoutsi et al. (2022), misunderstandings arising from language differences can lead to incorrect diagnoses or ineffective interventions, potentially negatively affecting the well-being of clients involved. The inability to effectively communicate not only promotes feelings of isolation but can also trigger additional trauma, reinforcing the vulnerabilities between refugee populations.
In addition, the historical and social contexts of violence by an intimate partner must be considered with the utmost seriousness. According to Damra and Akour (2024), many women refugees come from origins where violence by an intimate partner was predominant, either due to armed conflicts, socio-political instability or patriarchal cultural structures. Anterior trauma baggage can significantly affect a woman's self-perception and her ability to get involved with support systems. Professionals have the task not only of recognizing this story but also of ensuring that their interventions are informed by trauma and culturally competent. Treating symptoms without addressing underlying historical trauma can lead to surface solutions that do not facilitate a real cure.
By navigating these multifaceted obstacles, behavioural support professionals must adopt a culturally responsive approach that acknowledges the intersectionality of culture, trauma, and language in their practice. This approach not only enhances the relationship between refugee professionals and women but also increases the overall effectiveness of support strategies. In addition, continuous education and training focused on cultural competence can enable professionals to better interpret diverse expressions and cultural practices, thereby promoting a more inclusive and supportive environment for refugees in Australia (Nickerson et al., 2021).
“Breaking the silence is not just about speaking; it’s about being heard and understood.”, Unknown
Linguistic barriers pose an important challenge for behaviour support practitioners working with women who are refugees in Australia, which has an impact on the effectiveness of their interventions and the global therapeutic relationship. Effective communication is fundamental to the assessment of needs and the provision of appropriate support services; however, practitioners are often faced with obstacles associated with limited mastery of customers' English or, in some cases, with a complete lack of familiarity with the language. This disconnection can lead to erroneous interpretations and false declarations about customers' emotional states and psychosocial needs, complicating practitioners' ability to provide adequate support (Walker, Schultz, & Sonn, 2014).
KeBSI (2023) Glossary Linguistic difficulties specific to Iraqi refugee women, illustrating that these individuals frequently encounter a complex interaction of cultural nuances that language alone cannot transmit. The inability of practitioners to engage meaningfully with their customers can lead to essential information being neglected or poorly understood. Consequently, assessments of mental health needs and the provision of services can be altered, leaving customers without the necessary support which is proportionate to their unique experiences and horizons.
In addition, the implications of these linguistic misunderstandings extend beyond immediate communication challenges. Mathisen (2024) maintains that linguistic barriers can exacerbate feelings of isolation and alienation in refugee women. When practitioners cannot communicate effectively, customers may feel unknown or undervalued, which can lead to a negative impact on their mental health and well-being. The emotional distress resulting from this disconnection highlights the need for practitioners to engage in the development of solutions that deal with linguistic challenges.
A promising avenue to fill the linguistic gap is the involvement of trained interpreters who are not only competent in the languages spoken by refugee women but also trained in cultural competence and trauma-oriented care. As suggested by Featherstone et al. (2023), interpreters should understand the cultural contexts and trauma that these women have experienced to ensure precise and sensitive communication. This could involve specialized training programs focused on the nuances of intercultural communication and the subtleties of the language of trauma, thereby considerably improving the interpretation process.
In addition, practitioners can adopt strategies such as using visual aids, simplified language, or culturally relevant metaphors during customer interactions to facilitate understanding. Creating a welcoming environment that encourages spontaneous conversations in several languages, including dialects prevalent among local refugee populations, can also offer pathways for more efficient communication and relationship-building.
The integration of technology, such as translation applications or platforms that provide multilingual online support, can also serve as a valuable resource for overcoming linguistic limitations. However, practitioners should remain vigilant about the precision and cultural contextualization of these tools, ensuring that they complement rather than supplant human interaction.
In summary, noting linguistic challenges is crucial for practitioners helping refugee women in Australia, as it directly affects their ability to provide effective support. Thanks to targeted training for performers, the use of inclusive communication strategies and the incorporation of technology, practitioners can promote an environment that promotes understanding, ultimately improving the therapeutic efficiency of their interventions., To meet the challenges with multiple facets faced by behaviour support practitioners to help refugee women, in particular in the context of cultural, linguistic and trauma problems, several exploitable solutions can be proposed. Continuous training in cultural skills is essential for practitioners to improve their understanding of cultural shades that influence responses to violence and sex-specific trauma. This training should include comprehensive modules that reflect the various horizons of refugee women, allowing practitioners to engage with them with sensitivity and effectiveness. Dixson and Dixson (2022) highlight the importance of such training in promoting empathetic relationships, which can improve the outcomes of behavioural support interventions for this demography.
In addition, the creation of a systemic journal that examines the socio-cultural foundations affecting women's sexual and reproductive health could serve as a pivotal resource for practitioners. Such a review would synthesize existing research, including the ideas of El Ansari et al. (2025), to shed light on behaviour support approaches adapted to specific cultural contexts. By acquiring an in-depth understanding of beliefs and practices surrounding health and well-being within different cultural groups, practitioners are better equipped to provide services that resonate with the lived experiences of refugee women. This culturally enlightened approach can improve the relevance and efficiency of interventions, thus potentially attenuating the impact of trauma on the provision of services.
Effective community commitment strategies are crucial to cultivating relationships and confidence between practitioners and the communities they serve. As Kasherwa (2024) points out, these strategies include participatory awareness initiatives that involve refugee women in the co-design of services and resources. Such efforts not only empower women by validating their voices and experiences but also facilitate a more accessible service model. The integration of community leaders and cultural brokers into the awareness process can further improve efficiency, enabling refugees to navigate the complexities of available support systems more easily.
In addition, advocacy for the protection of denunciators in the context of exploitation is necessary to establish a safe and confident environment for practitioners and the women they support. As discussed by Berg et al. (2023), creating a framework that encourages reporting without fear of reprisals can help mitigate power imbalances that often permeate service provision. The empowerment of practitioners to denounce systemic injustices enables them to effectively advocate for the rights and well-being of refugee women, fostering an environment where both parties can engage honestly and transparently.
In addition, the use of interpreters or cultural bonds can considerably mitigate linguistic barriers which hinder communication between practitioners and refugee women. Ensure access to professional interpreters who are not only competent in the necessary languages but also culturally competent to alleviate misunderstandings and promote more fruitful interactions. The training of performers in trauma-oriented practices can further improve the quality of communication, allowing a more nuanced understanding of trauma stories than many refugee women carry.
Finally, the technology update can provide innovative solutions to fill cultural and linguistic gaps. Digital platforms offering multilingual resources and remote services can facilitate accessibility for refugee women who face mobility or transportation barriers. Thus, integrating technology into service provision can not only rationalize access to support but also empower women through platforms rich in information that respect their cultural contexts (Nickerson et al., 2021; Walker, Schultz, & Sonn, 2014).
This article examines the complex challenges faced by behaviour support practitioners in supporting refugee women in Australia, particularly in overcoming cultural, linguistic, and trauma-related barriers. It proposes culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and linguistically accessible strategies to enhance the effectiveness of support services and foster empowerment, resilience, and social inclusion among refugee women.