‘We were already strong’ : Young Refugees, Challenges and Resilience during COVID-19

Abstract

This paper is an exploration of refugee young peoples’ narratives about their lives and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Melbourne.  Intersectionality is used as a method and analytical tool to interpret these experiences and show how young people have adapted during this time, taking on roles as navigators, carers, providers, and innovators.The article highlights that the roles young people adopted through the pandemic are very similar to those undertaken by young people in their pre arrival to Australia.The research points to the importance of involving refugee young people in settlement and public health initiatives. Finally, it is argued that we need to recognise refugee young people as experts in their own complex experience, valued partners in settlement, future leadership, and potential change makers.