Annotated Bibliography of New Zealand Literature on Migrant and Refugee Youth
FOREWORD
I am pleased that this new annotated bibliography is now available as a valuable resource for policy makers, practitioners working with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds, community and ethnic organisations and researchers.
The focus of the bibliography, 'young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds' refers to young people aged 12 to 24 who have come to New Zealand as first generation migrants or refugees and to those who have been born in New Zealand to first generation migrant or refugee parents. Youth from migrant and refugee backgrounds form a significant proportion of the population. The proportion of young people aged between 12 and 24 years in the New Zealand population who were born overseas grew from 13% in 1996 to 17% in 2001 and to 21% in 2006. In addition, there is a growing population of young people born in New Zealand whose parents migrated to New Zealand.
Whether born in New Zealand or elsewhere, the young people who are members of these communities must negotiate growing to adulthood within and between at least two cultures - the culture of their parents' communities and the cultures of the host society.
This annotated bibliography provides a comprehensive account of the current evidence on settlement and social inclusion as it relates to young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in New Zealand. A key aim of the bibliography is to identify evidence about factors that facilitate or act as barriers to successful settlement and social inclusion for these young people.
The annotated bibliography contains over 200 annotations on a wide variety of topics relating to migrant and refugee youth. Each annotation contains information on the research aim or focus, who the participants were, the scope of the research, and key findings and outcomes. Keywords allow the reader to search for references on a particular topic.
The bibliography is structured broadly around the goals of the New Zealand Settlement Strategy which is led by the Department of Labour. There are five main sections: Family and Social Networks; Education and Employment; Health and Social Services; Identity and Participation; and Research Methods.
The references gathered in the bibliography indicate that there has been a significant amount of relevant research in New Zealand over the last three decades, particularly in the areas of family and social networks, education, social services and the crafting of identity by young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. The collection also indicates that this is a growing field of research and that researchers, particularly those belonging to refugee and migrant communities, are developing new methods of research.
Christopher Blake
Chief Executive and Secretary of Labour
