Overview

The Psychology and Cultures Interest group invites you to a 90- minute webinar on 17 September 2025 at 6.30pm AEST. The webinar will showcase 4 studies conducted in Australia, which highlight the merits as well as the challenges of digital technologies as they intersect with migrants and refugees in a highly digitalised world.

Abstract: Migrants and refugees are an integral part of Australia’s population. Many arrive with pre-migration stress and encounter post-migration stress in the form of cultural shock, isolation, language barriers, communication challenges, unemployment, educational stress, and an adjustment to a very new system.

Digital technologies (platforms and media) have become an integral part of migrant and refugee settlement in Australia, and digital skills are an important indicator of their integration. Digital technologies also facilitate belonging by providing migrant and refugees with vital sources of social contact, connection, and support. Migrant and refugees rely on social media to develop social networks in their resettlement country and maintain transnational relationships with family and friends left behind. They use social networks to build social ties, bonds, and bridges, enhancing their levels of social capital and trust, which are strong facilitators and indicators of refugee integration. These social networks can offer migrants and refugees social support, mitigate feelings of loneliness and isolation, and promote health and wellbeing.

Additionally, digital media production, such as digital storytelling, allows newly arrived, especially youth, to express their identities, assert ownership of their narratives, and engage in identity and resettlement work. Considering the challenges faced by some emerging communities and the need to help them in effective way, the proposed presentations showcase how a range of digital technologies intersect with migrant and refugee settlement in an increasingly digitised world.

• The first study unpacks the digital precarity that African women from the humanitarian diaspora experience due to their complete dependency on family members to navigate much-needed, critical transactions.
• The second study counters the existent narrative that portrays Black Africans in Australia as being a ‘problem’. It presents how Black African youth use social media to challenge this populist discourse to showcase successful settlement. 
• The third study focuses on Chinese older migrants to unpack their digital wellbeing over the pandemic years. It raises awareness of the inequities with respect to literacy, social support that makes one think beyond just access to technology.
• Finally, the fourth study highlights how the voices of the former refugee youth and their parents and teachers can be used to learn about factors that promote a sense of belonging in youth from refugee backgrounds

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants would be able to:

• Become familiar with recent research conducted with migrants and refugees in Australia.
• Understand how digital technologies can be used to enhance the wellbeing and integration of migrants and refugees.
• Understand how digital technologies can also cause stress for migrants and refugees.

Presenter(s)

About the presenter(s)

Dr. Aparna Hebbian is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. Her area of research is migrant and refugee settlement, acculturation and communication.

Dr. Claire Moran is a Lecturer at Monash University. Her area of interest is migration, youth and digital cultures.

Dr. Wilfred Wang is lecturer at the University of Melbourne. His area of research is media, communication, aging and justice.

Dr. Nigar G Khawaja is an Adjunct Professor at the Queensland University of Technology. Her area of research is migrant and refugee integration, acculturation and wellbeing.

Notes

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at psychologists.

Duration of Access

This event will be recorded. The recording will be emailed to all registered within 2 weeks post event and available for viewing up to 90 days.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.