Abstract

This paper outlines a best practice model working with women from diverse cultural and language groups during their settlement journey. It focuses on initiatives undertaken to engage refugee women who have arrived in Australia under the Women At Risk program. The Women At Risk program recognizes the priority given by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to protection of refugee women in particularly vulnerable situations. The project this paper is based on has focused on developing strategies and initiatives to enable participants to share their skills and experiences in a safe environment and to build new skills and networks. While the outcomes for individual participants vary, all members have developed confidence and strengths in partaking in their settlement journey. This paper is a narrative reflection voicing the women’s journey through the process of identity formation, settlement and acceptance.