Seattle University Collaborative Projects - International Academy of ...

Australia has aligned “family violence” provisions of the Migration Regulations with the FamilyLaw Act. It is defined as “conduct, whether actual or threatened … that causes the alleged victimto experience reasonable fear for, or be reasonably apprehensive about, his or her own wellbeingor safety”. However, if a claim of “family violence” is not supported, or a marriage has brokendown without “family violence”, cancellation of a visa is likely to occur, with return of the“sponsored” person to their country of origin. Such outcomes may have severe repercussions,including serious mental health concerns and real threat to one’s sense of safety and security. Aseries of cases will be presented to illustrate the complexity of the assessments undertaken bypsychologists in such matters, while attempting to search for ‘evidence’. This presentation alsoaims to explore the conflict that can occur between legal representatives attempting to use anavailable mechanism for a person to remain in the country and the psychology profession.Finally, implications for professional practice will be discussed.How to Assess ‘Character’? Implications for Migrants, Refugees or AsylumSeekers whose ‘character’ is being QuestionedRima Nasr, LSC Psychology, Sydney, Australia (rnasr@lscpsych.com.au)John Howard, University of New South Wales (john.howard@unsw.edu.au)When charged with certain offences and not a Permanent Resident or Citizen of Australia, the“character test” may be applied. If there are supportable concerns regarding “character”, theindividual may be returned to their country of origin against their will, subsequent to a Courtdetermination of a criminal matter or period of imprisonment. This has serious mental health andother implications both on the individual and their systems (such as children and other familymembers). Additionally, a person may have little in the way of identity or supports in theircountry of origin, particularly if they had not lived in that country for many years and, when theydid, conditions may have been chaotic, dangerous and destructive, with civil conflict ordiscrimination leading to re-location for “protection” or as a “refugee”. Assessments of“character”, including risk for re-offending, are complex and often contested. Psychologists mustnegotiate the assessment of psychological vulnerability or impact, as well as considering thesafety to the Australian community in terms of potential ‘risks’ that an individual poses shouldthey remain in Australia. A series of cases will be presented to illustrate the issues involved,including “risk assessment” and complexity, leading to suggestions for practice.The Child in Immigration Assessments: Relocation, Trauma and the Shatteringof IdentityChris Lennings, Australian College of Applied Psychology (clennings@lscpsych.com.au)81