Afro-diasporic Experiences of Highly Skilled Black African Immigrants in Australia

ABSTRACT

This study explored the experiences of skilled African immigrants in Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 individuals from different sub-Saharan African countries currently residing in South Australia. The findings report on the experiences of change, cultural identity, diasporic identities, employment, negotiating family dynamics, and the experiences of racial discrimination in Australia. These findings call for considerations that address these inequities, including culturally sensitive practice by social services, employers, and the wider society. Understanding the experiences of African migrants in Australia is particularly relevant for decolonised, critical social work practice, which takes the emphasis away from an individual’s ability to cope by examining how social environments shape such experiences.

IMPLICATIONS

• Advocacy to address racism and discrimination towards African migrants in Australia is necessary.

• Fostering support for African migrants as they develop a diasporic identity and adapt to changes in family dynamics is encouraged.

• Developing culturally sensitive social support services for African immigrants is necessary for integration.

本文研究澳大利亚非裔技术移民的经历，对居住在南澳大利亚的27位来自撒哈拉以南非洲的个体进行了半固定式访谈。文章介绍了他们在澳大利亚所经历的变化、文化身份、迁徙身份、就业、家庭谈判、以及种族歧视等等。根据这些发现，需要考虑解决不平等包括社会服务机构、雇主以及大社会的一些文化敏感活动。了解非洲移民在澳大利亚的经历对于去殖民化的、批判性的社工实践具有特殊意义，因为这种实践不再把重点放在个体应对的能力上，而是探讨造成这种经验的社会环境。

KEYWORDS:

• Black African Migrants
• Australia
• Skilled African Migrants
• Migration
• Social Work

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).