Engaging older Chinese Australians with digital media during Covid19 lockdown (September 2020 - February 2021)

This project studies digital media use among older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. This project seeks to identify the gaps between the health communication being utilised by Australian authorities and, the information and social needs among older Chinese Australians (OCAs) during a public health crisis. The project evaluates opportunities, limitations, and ethical considerations of incorporating digital media in communicating and providing service to older Australians, to increase an understanding of OCAs’ experience of using digital media to access health information and social/community support programs.

本專案致力於研究來自多元文化和語言（CALD）背景的澳洲華人長者如何使用數位媒體。具體而言，本專案旨在找出疫情當下，澳洲政府所使用的健康傳播管道，與澳洲華人長者的資訊和社交需求之間的差距。另外，本專案將評估通過使用數位媒體與該群體互動所帶來的機會、局限以及道德方面的影響。這將有助於增強瞭解澳洲華人長者如何使用與駕馭數字媒體，以獲取健康和社會/社區扶持專案相關的資訊。

本项目致力于研究来自多元文化和语言（CALD）背景的澳洲华人长者如何使用数字媒体。具体而言，本项目旨在找出疫情当下，澳洲政府所使用的健康传播渠道，与澳洲华人长者的信息和社交需求之间的差距。另外，本项目将评估通过使用数字媒体与该群体互动所带来的机会、局限以及道德方面的影响。这将有助于增强了解澳洲华人长者如何使用与驾驭数字媒体，以获取健康和社会/社区扶持项目相关的信息。

Funeral Rites and Memorialisation in Contemporary Australia: Changes and Continuities (2018-2019)

This study focuses on three specific groups that were identified in consultation with our partner organisations (Department of Health and Human Services VIC and Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust) as most in need of understanding their specific characteristics in terms of funeral rites. The three groups include: Baby Boomers, Christians, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse population.

The project involves in-depth semi-structured interviews and online questionnaires.

Output:

Wang, W. Y., Han, G.-S., & Forbes-Mewett, H. (2019, October 27). Migrant communities keep our cemeteries alive as more Anglo-Australians turn to cremation. The Conversation.

Han, G.S., Forbes-Mewett, H., and Wang, W.Y. (2019) Approaches to Death, Funeral Rites and Memorialisation in Contemporary Australia: Changes and Continuities, for The Department of Health and Human Services of the Government of Victoria.

Young Asian-Australians’ use of social media in coping with COVID-19 (2020 - 2021)

The objective of this project (UoM Chancellery’s COVID19 Impact on Society Seed Fund, 2020-2021, A$8,000) is twofold. First, it aims to examine how Asian youth in Australia learn about COVID-19 through social media. Second, it investigates the extent to which they are exposed to COVID-19-related racism on social media and its impacts on them. To address the two objectives, we will conduct a preliminary national survey of 1,000 youths aged 16-30 who self-identify as Asian-Australian (either born in Asian countries and migrated to Australia or have Asian heritage).

Project team: Dr Wonsun Shin, Dr Jay Song, Dr Wilfred Wang

Outputs

Wang, W., Shin, W., & Song, J. (2021). What social media platforms can and should do to build young Asian Australians’ resilience against online racism. Melbourne Asia Review, 8. https://doi.org/10.37839/mar2652-550x8.22

Multiculturalism in the Australian Cemetery (September 2016 -December 2017)

This is a collaborative project between Monash University and the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT). The project is first of its kind in understanding Australian Chinese immigrants' acculturation experience through their (changing) perceptions about cemeteries, funerals and death.

The project involves in-depth semi-structured interviews and participant observations since September 2016.

本研究项目是一个由莫纳什大学（Monash University）与史宾威墓地(Springvale Cemetery) 的合作研究项目。项目希望通过对生活在墨尔本的华裔移民对安葬礼节和殡仪仪式的观念（的转变），来探讨旅澳华人的生活经历和文化体验。

Output:

Wang, W. Y., Han, G., & Forbes-Mewett, H. (2020). Community stakeholder and opinion formation toward end-of-life planning in Chinese community in Australia. Death Studies, 1-13. doi:10.1080/07481187.2020.1815101

Forbes-Mewett, H., Han, G.-S., & Wang, W. Y. (2020). Together Here, Now and Forever: Chinese Immigrants’ Belonging in Australia, Family, Ethnicity and Memorialisation. Journal of Intercultural Studies.

Han, G.S., Forbes-Mewett, H., and Wang, W.Y. (2018). My own business, not my children’s: Negotiating funeral rites and the mobility and communication juncture among Chinese migrants in Melbourne. Mobilities.

In media: See ‘Radio’ section in Research Areas