There is such a lot to be considdered about integration.
First of all the refugees come from wartorn countries and are ful of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of Police and anyone in uniform. Fear of the future and being rejectec by the local communities. Gathering around other people who speak their language and understand their customs is a safeguard for them.
Then there is the problem with unemployed teenagers and young adults because their english is inadequate to employ them. So they gather in groups of others with a similar background and envy the ones that have more or better lifes. Most of them are poorly educated and don't know how to achieve what they want. Out of frustration they riot, steal and fall prey to drugs. Nothing makes them realise that integration and learning will make a better life than what they fled from.
The mentality of entitlement is something that has not helped anyone, and so problems arise.
The emigrants after WWII did not have such problems. Work was there for everyone. Most young people started work at 14 or 15 as apprentices or in factories. We were made welcome and had a lot of help from local communities. Learning english was paramount to be able to communicate with people from all sosts of different countries.
Today, newcomers do not understand that integration is vital for a good future in this country. The Government moves refugees from the same country in close neighbourhoods, thinking it will help them to settle easier. This is wrong. It does not give the newcomer an incentive to integrate with Australians.
Settle one family only in one town and they are forced to communicate with the locals. Integration will not occur where many families from the same country are settled in one place. They will stick together and expect to live the way they had in their home country.
Don't blame the newcomers. They don't know any better, and pandering to their demands is not helping them or anyone else. Educating them about integration and the benefits it brings would be a start.
Erica
