title: Resettlement experiences and resilience in refugee youth in Perth, Western Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Australia, the two major pathways of refugee entry are the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees resettlement programme and irregular maritime arrivals (IMAs) seeking asylum. The Australian Government's policies towards IMAs since July 2013 are controversial, uncompromising and consistently harsh, with asylum seekers held in detention centres for prolonged periods. Refugees and asylum seekers have distinct and unique stressors that make resettlement difficult.
  
  
  METHODS
  This exploratory study examines resettlement experiences for refugee youth in Western Australia using the psychosocial conceptual framework and qualitative methods. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were undertaken with verbatim transcripts analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes documented that language and its impact, and experience with education, health, and social activities, support structures provided to youth and supporting future aspirations as critical to successful resettlement. This exploratory study contributes to developing a broader understanding of the resettlement experiences of refugee youth, drawing on their current and past experiences, cultural differences and mechanisms for coping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluency in English language, especially spoken, was a facilitator of successful resettlement. Our results align with previous studies documenting that support programs are vital for successful resettlement. Although faced with immense difficulties refugee youth are resilient, want to succeed and have aspirations for the future. Strategies and recommendations suggested by refugee youth themselves could be used for developing interventions to assist successful resettlement.
authors.affiliation: International Health Programme, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia. j.earnest@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jaya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Earnest
authors.affiliation: International Health Programme, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia. ruthmansi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mansi
authors.affiliation: International Health Programme, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia. sara.bayati@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bayati
authors.affiliation: International Health Programme, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia. earnjoel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joel Anthony
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Earnest
authors.affiliation: Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, 167 Fitzgerald St, Geraldton, WA, 6530, Australia. Sandra.thompson@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sandra C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia