The Iron Cage of Bureaucracy - Asylum Seekers and Moral Injury - June 2026

LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Capability Level: Evolving & Established

Aside from its First Peoples, so-called Australia is a nation of immigrants, many of whom have fled conflict and persecution in the hope of being granted protection and the opportunity for a life of relative safety. Unfortunately, depending on their mode of arrival, many asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) experience indefinite detention and/or prolonged processing times for their humanitarian visa applications. In some cases, these processes extend for over a decade, contributing to what is known as moral injury. This compounds the trauma, loss, and grief that asylum seekers already endure and often results in a significant decline in mental health and wellbeing.

It is vital for social workers supporting this vulnerable cohort to understand these experiences and how they shape the presentation of ASRs, in order to provide compassionate, trauma-informed support across diverse practice contexts. This workshop will explore the experiences of immigration, moral injury, and grief among ASRs, and provide social workers with frameworks and practical tools to work effectively with individuals experiencing moral injury, loss, and grief.

Who should attend?

This workshop is ideal for intermediate social workers with prior knowledge and experience working with a range of vulnerable service participant cohorts, but who may not be aware of the particular complexities faced by asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs), nor compassion- and trauma-based approaches to supporting them. It will also benefit practitioners seeking to strengthen their cultural humility, ethical responsiveness, and confidence when working within systems that may inadvertently contribute to harm, uncertainty, and prolonged distress for ASRs.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

· Articulate a brief account of Australian policy and procedure with respect to ASRs

· Understand what moral injury is and how it affects ASRs

· Apply the, “Five Gates Of Grief,” model of loss and grief to the ASR experience

· Consider compassion-based and trauma-informed approaches to working with ASRs

Event Structure:

Introduction

Learning Session 1: A brief history of asylum seeker / refugee (ASR) policy and practice in Australia

Learning Activity 1: Interactive group discussion and Breakout room

Learning Session 2: The iron cage of bureaucracy - moral injury and demoralisation for asylum seekers and refugees

Learning Activity 2: Interactive group discussion and Breakout room

Learning Session 3: The five gates of grief,’ as a model for understanding ASRs loss and grief

Learning Activity 3: Open discussion and case study reflection

Learning Session 4: Compassionate and trauma-informed support for ASRs

Learning Activity 4: Open discussion and case study

Conclusion and Q&A

AASW Credential: Mental health