Immigrant and refugee mothers' experiences of the transition into childcare: a case study

With increasing numbers of families arriving in Australia for humanitarian reasons or through migration, childcare centres may often be the first point of contact with dominant cultural practices for these families. This period of transition into childcare can be a fraught with anxiety. This article reports on findings from a case study conducted in a childcare centre in South Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. A small group of mothers and educators participated in interviews to discuss their experiences during transition into the centre. Findings show supports and challenges faced by immigrant and refugee families during this transition time and identify processes educators can employ to ease this transition.