Settlement Service Literacy and the Relationship Between Service Utilisation and Wellbeing Among Newly Arrived Migrants: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Protocol

Settlement Service Literacy and the Relationship Between Service Utilisation and Wellbeing Among Newly Arrived Migrants: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review Protocol Kerry Woodward1*, Michael Polonsky1, Julie Green2, Julianne Abood3, Andre Renzaho3 1 Deakin Business School, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125 Australia 2 Raising Children Network Ltd, Parenting Research Centre, Level 5/232 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002 3 School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith 2751 NSW Australia ABSTRACT Background: Settlement service literacy refers to the ability of migrants to access, understand and critically navigate settlement services. In Australia, increasing numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse migrants require settlement services to assist their transition. However, there are barriers to migrant’s ability to utilise settlement services which are related to their level of settlement service literacy. This review aims to shed light on how settlement service literacy influences new migrant’s utilisation of settlement services, and the consequences that it has for health, wellbeing and sense of belonging. Methods: The review will follow the guidelines laid out by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Literature searches will be undertaken in CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, SocIndex, ProQuest Social Science Database, and Google Scholar. Grey literature and relevant government bodies, non-government organisations, service providers and research institutes will also be searched. Studies included will report primary data (qualitative and quantitative) on new migrant’s (under five years) ability to utilise settlement services in high income countries. Studies that meet the inclusion criteria will be imported to Covidence, two researchers will screen the studies in a two part process (title and introduction scan; and full text) for relevance. Data extracted will include general publication information (author, country, year, and publication), type of study, participants, type of settlement service, measured outcomes, and the study aims, methods and results. Finally, data will be synthesised using a narrative approach. Discussion: The review will provide insight into the relationship between settlement service literacy and service utilisation and wellbeing for new migrants. The review will also provide data to inform settlement service policy to better cater for the needs of migrants. * Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Kerry Woodward, Deakin Business School, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125 Australia. Email: Social Science Protocols, February 2020, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.7565/ssp.2020.2801 1 Systematic review registration: This protocol has been submitted to the international prospective register of systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PROSPERO) and is currently under review. Keywords: Settlement service literacy, service utilisation, new migrants, wellbeing 1. Background 1.1 Settlement service literacy Australia is one of the most multi-faith and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) societies in the world (ABS, 2013). Increasing numbers of CALD migrants has required the Australian government to establish a wide range of settlement services to facilitate their adjustment to the new environment. Successful engagement with settlement services provides migrants a pivotal sense of identity or ‘sense of belonging’ in Australia (Renzaho et al., 2011; Renzaho, McCabe & Sainsbury, 2010). Whilst government policy enshrines migrants’ rights to settlement services, underutilisation of settlement services occurs due to a range of issues related to service provision, community attitudes, language, availability of interpreters, migrants’ service awareness, and perceptions of discrimination, as well as financial barriers (Renzaho et al., 2011; Renzaho, McCabe & Sainsbury, 2010). It is well documented that many migrants have challenging settlement experiences as a result of poor settlement service literacy (SSL) and structural inequity (SCOA, 2015). SSL refers to the extent to which migrants have foundational information, knowledge, and skills to access and effectively utilise settlement services; specific developmental processes by which these skills can be developed; competencies to critically navigate settlement services; and political skills to mobilize mainstream society so settlement services can be prioritised on political agendas (Masinda, 2014). Masinda (2014) provides a useful typology of SSL consisting of three key threads: basic settlement service literacy, critical settlement service literacy, and political settlement service literacy. These categories cover migrant’s ability to access and be aware of relevant settlement services (basic), their ability to question and challenge services and service providers (critical), and their ability to shape and influence the design and implementation of settlement services (political). The development of competencies that enable CALD migrant communities to interact effectively with available services and support can contribute to reducing structural inequity, increase sense of belonging, and promote wellbeing. SSL involves a wide range of interactive processes involved in everyday information exchange, such processes are central to making critical judgements and decisions in settlement service settings (Masinda, 2014). In this way, SSL extends beyond technical and functional skills for coping with the demands of everyday life and work in a knowledge economy (ABS, 2013b). SSL constructs literacy as part of the infrastructure used to promote healthy lifestyles; reveals the ways in which it is patterned by history, social and cultural life, values and relationships; and how it contributes to socioeconomic development, enhancing individuals’ capacity for social awareness and critical reflection as a basis for personal and social change (Masinda, 2014). SSL is closely linked to the individual’s overall literacy level, which is lower among Australians whose first language is not English (ABS, 2013b). 1.2 Aim of the review The aim of this review is to map out and assess research that provides insights into the relationship between SSL and service utilisation for new migrants. Understanding the level of SSL among new migrants has important implications for the integration and sense of Social Science Protocols, February 2020, 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.7565/ssp.2020.2801 2 belonging for new migrants, as well as for reducing structural inequalities migrants face in their new country. Lack of SSL among migrants forms substantial barriers to job seeking, education options, and accessing settlement services due to a lack of communication confidence (limiting help-seeking). Moreover, low SSL can contribute to pe (...truncated)