Australian settlement workers’ use of food security information resources with refugee clients: A qualitative exploration

Abstract

Objective:

Refugees are susceptible to food insecurity. In high-income countries, settlement workers provide information, including food security information resources, to newly-arrived refugees. Australia has a range of resources but their use in settlement work is unknown. This study’s aims were to explore settlement workers’ resource use with refugee clients.

Design:

This descriptive, qualitative study explored settlement workers’ perceptions regarding resource use. One-on-one interviews, using a semi-structured guide, were conducted. The Technology Acceptance Model’s usage constructs (including Actual Use and Perceived Usefulness) informed the guide and analytical constructs. Under these constructs, emergent usage themes were identified.

Setting:

Six Australian cities.

Participants:

Settlement workers.

Results:

Fourteen workers were interviewed. Thirteen worked for government-related departments. All used resources as part of client welcome packs, to address acute food insecurity, and/or support clinical deficiency issues. Print, pictorial, translated, and co-designed resources were perceived to be most useful. Less useful were resources with limited cultural tailoring, translation issues, and high literacy demand. There was limited use of digital resources due to variations in clients’ digital access and literacy. Opportunities for improvement include streamlining access, addressing topics such as clinical deficiencies related food insecurity, and increasing culturally-nuanced translation.

Conclusions:

Development of culturally-appropriate resources, facilitating resource access, and improved food culture information may help settlement workers better support refugee populations with food security challenges during resettlement in high-income countries