Two cultures: one life

Recognition of the communal nature of the culture and traditions of many refugees who have resettled in Australia in recent years, particularly those from African countries, has urged a stronger consideration of community-based approaches to their recovery and resettlement. In 2004, a framework of recovery, developed to enhance the mental health and well-being of refugees during resettlement in Australia, was applied to a community capacity-building programme among South Sudanese refugees living in an outer western suburb of Melbourne. This paper explores the integration of recovery goals into the structures and processes initiated throughout the programme. It assesses the contribution of this model to strengthening the community's ability to adjust to resettlement and enable greater control in determining their lives in Australia.