Telecommunications across borders: refugees' technology use during displacement

This article reports on recent research examining refugees as a particular user group of communication technologies. The term `refugee? refers to all people who are exposed to refugee-type experiences and may include displaced people, asylum seekers and resettled refugees who have been granted residency in Australia. A review of literature has found that refugees as technology users have had very little attention across different disciplines, although the research has shown that technology is key to sustaining emotional wellbeing and precarious connections with family members when displaced. In particular, the telephone is the most critical technology for refugees in terms availability and familiarity. However, the access and affordability of telecommunications services and other technologies during displacement impacts on refugees? adoption and use of technology in the settlement process

Syrian Refugees and Digital Health in Lebanon

There are currently over 1.1 million Syrian refugees in need of healthcare services from an already overstretched Lebanese healthcare system. Access to antenatal care (ANC) services presents a particular challenge. We conducted focus groups with 59 refugees in rural Lebanon to identify contextual and cultural factors that can inform the design of digital technologies to support refugee ANC. Previously identified high utilization of smartphones by the refugee population offers a particular opportunity for using digital technology to support access to ANC as well as health advocacy. Our findings revealed a number of considerations that should be taken into account in the design of refugee ANC technologies, including: refugee health beliefs and experiences, literacy levels, refugee perceptions of negative attitudes of healthcare providers, and hierarchal and familial structures

Syrian Refugees and Digital Health in Lebanon: Opportunities for Improving Antenatal Health

ABSTRACT There are currently over 1.1 million Syrian refugees in need of healthcare services from an already overstretched Lebanese healthcare system. Access to antenatal care (ANC) services presents a particular challenge. We conducted focus groups with 59 refugees in rural Lebanon to identify contextual and cultural factors that can inform the design of digital technologies to support refugee ANC. Previously identified high utilization of smartphones by the refugee population offers a particular opportunity for using digital technology to support access to ANC as well as health advocacy. Our findings revealed a number of considerations that should be taken into account in the design of refugee ANC technologies, including: refugee health beliefs and experiences, literacy levels, refugee perceptions of negative attitudes of healthcare providers, and hierarchal and familial structures

Technology’s Refuge

An investigation into the use of information communication technologies by refugees during flight, displacement and in settlement, this book examines the impact of Australia’s official policy of mandatory detention on how asylum seekers and refugees maintain links to diasporas and networks of support. Given the restricted contact with the world outside of the immigration detention centre, the book juxtaposes forms and processes of technology-mediated communication between institutionalised detention, with those of displacement and settlement. It finds that while there are obstacles to communication in situations of conflict and dislocation, asylum seekers and refugees are able to ‘make do’ with the technology options available to them in ways which were less constrained than in detention settings. The book also outlines how communication practices during the settlement process focus on learning new technologies, and repairing the disconnections with family members resulting from separation and detention

Technology’s Refuge: The use of technology by asylum seekers and refugees

This research by Linda Leung investigated the use of Information communication technologies (ICT) by refugees during flight, displacement and in settlement. It examined the impact of Australia’s official policy of mandatory detention on how asylum seekers and refugees maintain links to diasporas and networks of support. Given the restricted contact with the world outside of the immigration detention centre, the study juxtaposed forms and processes of technology-mediated communication between institutionalised detention with those of displacement and settlement. The research found that while there were obstacles to communication in situations of conflict and dislocation, asylum seekers and refugees are able to ‘make do’ with the technology options available to them in ways which were less constrained than in detention settings. Communication practices during the settlement process focused on learning new technologies, and repairing the disconnections with family members resulting from separation and detention

The impact of Information and Communication Technologies on the settlement of Iranian refugees in Australia

This research investigated the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Iranian refugee settlement in Australia. To date, little research has been undertaken related to ICT literacy of Iranian refugees and the reasons behind the usage. The primary focus was on access and use of ICT; in particular, the ways Iranian refugees in Australia find and share information online to improve their settlement. This study applied Multi-Sited Ethnography (MSE) as a qualitative methodology with a thematic analysis drawing on semi-structured interviews with two groups of participants (Iranian refugees and those with a role of assisting refugees). Historically, Iranian migration to Australia was minimal and mostly consisted of economic migrants and students. However, this migration pattern was affected by the Islamic revolution in 1979, as it now includes forced migration of Iranian refugees. The study identified the issues associated with settlement, such as language, employment and the differences in culture, social norms and laws between the homeland and the hostland. The findings show the vital role ICT play in refugees’ day-to-day life as they settle into their new surroundings. ICT assist refugees to become less isolated, less marginalised and more a part of mainstream society. ICT support improvements in their education, training and employment as well as helping them maintain ties with their homeland. The research contributes to the body of knowledge by shedding light on the issues faced by Iranian refugees through their use of ICT. The findings may improve their settlement process through the creation of an ICT-based settlement model for use by government and non-government organisations that provide support for Iranian refugees. This offers an opportunity for refugees to reconstruct their social identity, enable them to participate in the Australian community, and gain a new sense of belonging. The results of this study could be applied to refugees of different backgrounds in Australia and for Iranian refugees in other countries. Future research could investigate the digital divide between refugees in Australia and mainstream Australians. Keywords: ICT, MSE, refugees, migration, settlemen