Language is an essential part of both our work and home lives.
Our ability to communicate also has a profound impact on our mental and physical wellbeing – forming close relationships, discussing our wants and needs, and connecting with the outside community and all parts of a meaningful human experience.
So for refugees and migrants who can’t speak English in an English-speaking community, what effect does this have on their lives?
Cam-Van Than-Trong, Family and Child Community Caseworker at CatholicCare Victoria, sees these effects each and every day in her role.
Van was born in Vietnam and came to Australia in 2004. She arrived with English skills but little knowledge and practice with English conversation.
Having experienced the challenges of language in a new country, and seeing how these challenges affected other Vietnamese migrants, Van was eager to help.
“At the time when I arrived in Australia, the Government didn’t have many resources available to support Vietnamese migrants,” says Van.
“It was common that they’d turn to drugs and alcohol as a means to escape their worries. And this still happens to this day.”
Van now works as a Family Alcohol and Other Drug Counsellor in Footscray, and as a Child and Family Case worker in the City of Yarra.
She supports Vietnamese families and has a particular focus on supporting Vietnamese women – coaching them in communication to enable better connection with their families and communities, and creating happier, more fulfilling lives.
“I run a children’s play group and a women’s support group, helping single mothers and vulnerable women. Also, for two to three years I taught English to Vietnamese women and it was a very rewarding experience. Because now, these women have stable jobs or have achieved significant positive change within their families,” says Van.
Van supports families and individuals who are experiencing parenting challenges, mental health issues, and attachment/relationship issues.
“When a mother can’t communicate with her children or partner due to language barriers, this can lead to all sorts of issues. One, for example, being feelings of loneliness and isolation,” says Van.
Language: barriers and benefits
Van speaks Vietnamese with many of the families and individuals she supports, particularly with older generation Vietnamese who are first generation migrants (and many of whom speak little to no English).
Speaking with families in their mother language cultivates an environment where they can effectively communicate their needs, enabling their access to suitable help and support.
Language differences aren’t just a common barrier for seeking support, but Van also mentions how language is often a barrier within families, too.
“I often see Vietnamese parents trying to speak English to their young kids to help them learn, but what ends up happening is that this eventually creates a language barrier between the parents and children. The children eventually become fluent English speakers, but then they don’t know how to speak Vietnamese,” says Van.
“If the parents can only speak basic English, this causes significant problems in teen years where parents and their kids can’t communicate their needs and concerns effectively. I always urge parents to speak Vietnamese with their kids. The kids will learn English in school – they spend 7 hours there every day.”
Van also mentions that young people who are bilingual are shown to study better; they experience less issues with isolation; they’re more involved in the community; and when they’re older it’s easier for them to find jobs (it looks good on the resume!).
So while being unable to speak English in an English-speaking country can prove problematic, we can see that holding onto mother language is important for maintaining connection and communication within culturally and linguistically diverse families.
Understanding the importance of culture
Culture plays a significant role in how families access support and the type of support they need.
While understanding and speaking the language is a big enabler for Van to support Vietnamese families, understanding culture is just as important.
“In the Vietnamese community there is a stigma around issues regarding mental health, drug, and alcohol problems. Because of this, it’s common for them to keep these issues a secret. The problem is that these issues then worsen, until it becomes overwhelming to deal with,” says Van.
Van’s understanding of both Vietnamese language and culture often means she’s asked to provide support in other family services, where the involvement of translators has been unsuccessful.
“I get lots of word-of-mouth referrals from clients’ families and friends, and from doctors and community workers. And I’m providing support to other case workers when needed too,” says Van.
When culture and language play a vital role in support
Van shares a story of a Vietnamese family she supported who were experiencing issues with drug use and child safety.
Anh*, a 70-year-old grandmother, first went looking for support when her daughter was living with drug addiction, and as a result lost custody of her children.
Anh’s granddaughter was placed in the custody of her stepfather, but the family’s support workers had no knowledge of Vietnamese culture, and were unaware of the way the granddaughter was being treated by her stepfather.
“In Vietnam, when a mother remarries, her children will go to live with their grandparents,” says Van.
“It’s common that stepparents in Vietnam don’t view their stepchildren as their own. This view is rooted in Vietnamese culture and it’s something that played a crucial part in this family’s case.”
Anh knew that her granddaughter was being treated unfairly, and wished to take custody of her granddaughter to provide her with the care she needed. The only issue was that Anh couldn’t speak English – and to make things more complex, she spoke a Vietnamese dialect which translators couldn’t understand.
“I was brought in to help Anh and her family, because luckily I was able to understand the dialect she spoke. I supported Anh to gain legal help and information, and I collaborated with the child protection worker to inform them about the issues with the stepfather,” says Van.
With Van’s support, Anh gained custody of her granddaughter, and she also found additional support she was looking for.
“I provided counselling to help Anh set boundaries with her daughter affected by drug use, and I also provided some parenting help - Anh was in a very difficult situation and she wanted to ensure the care and safety of her granddaughter. It’s so rewarding to know I was able to help her achieve that.”
“The thing I love most about my job is that I can see change in families,” says Van.
International Mother Language Day recognizes that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind. – United Nations
Learn more about our Alcohol and Other Drug service for families and individuals here.
Liz Gellel | Marketing Coordinator – Digital Lead
*At CatholicCare Victoria, we respect everyone who comes to us for help and many are working towards a fresh start in life. While the stories and quotes are true, client names and images have been changed to protect their privacy.
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