Paper short abstract:

The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of migration on intergenerational relationship within South Sudanese Australian families. A particular focus is the unintended consequences of intervention by Australian authorities responding to reports of intergenerational family violence.

Paper long abstract:

The current South Sudanese population of Australia is approximately 30,000, most of whom are forced immigrants and came for resettlement between 2002 and 2008. Despite the experience of trauma and long periods of displacement experienced by many of them, the community has demonstrated significant achievements and is making an increasing contribution to Australia. At the same time, intergenerational conflict, violence and breakdown within families are central concerns for the South Sudanese Australian community as well as for Australian authorities.

The focus of this paper is twofold. Firstly, data from in-depth interviews of 38 South Sudanese community members and community development workers is analysed to explore main causes of inter-generational conflict in South Sudanese Australian families. Secondly, the paper will demonstrate how intervention from authorities responding to reports of abuse, dominantly in the form of corporal punishment of children by parents, was perceived as an attack from the government which destroys the authority and responsibility as parents. By feeling constrained from physically punishing their children some parents felt demoralised by their sense of losing their rights to discipline their children. In response they withdrew their parenting efforts leaving a vacuum in the behaviour management and mentoring of their youth who at the same time were learning and testing their liberties and responsibilities in their new environment. The paper concludes by considering more appropriate strategies by Australian authorities to support South Sudanese and other African migrant families managing and resolving family conflicts.