“A stone in your heart?”: A sociological analysis of refugee and asylum seeker service provision

Using sociological concepts, this thesis examines the experiences of service providers working with refugees and asylum seekers in Victoria, Australia. This thesis reveals that service providers must overcome several challenges in their work, including working across cultures and recognising the risks which make refugees and asylum seekers vulnerable. Moreover, this research was conducted during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The research highlights that the pandemic worsened existing vulnerabilities in service provision, exemplifying issues across cultures and risks. In order to help service providers, support needs to recognise how identity can shape care for both the care provider and receiver.