Parenting experiences and impacts to wellbeing for South and Southeast Asian migrant caregivers in Australia across the First 2000 Days: reflections from migrants and service providers

The First 2000 Days are a key period for children’s development. Stressors experienced during this period–including stressors experienced by parents–may predict children’s future wellbeing outcomes. While a growing body of research focuses on parenting and parents’ wellbeing during this time, caregiving experiences in growing migrant groups remains overlooked. This paper explored how one such group–S/SE Asian migrant caregivers–experience parenting in their culture/s and in a resettlement context (Australia), and the ways these parenting experiences influenced their wellbeing. Through thematic analysis of interview data from nine mothers and 22 service providers, four themes were generated: (1) ‘Fractured parenting templates’, (2) ‘There’s such a big power imbalance’: Cultural clashes in parenting approaches, (3) Ongoing stressors: Isolation from community and services, and (4) ‘I have got two hands, two feet’: Motivation and resourcefulness in navigating parenting challenges. Mothers experienced various parenting and wellbeing challenges regarding identity, engaging with maternity and early childhood services, and isolation. Despite these stressors, mothers reported motivation and resourcefulness. Findings suggest that the intersecting events of migration, parenting, and navigating a new health system may impact the ‘parenting templates’ of caregivers, and clinical implications suggest that services should consider strengths-based approaches in supporting their clients.