The connecting pin of the “Thai-Aus” group: The roles of a social network in the livelihoods of Thai student migrant laborers in Australia

Abstract

          International migration has become a critical issue in the modern era. Studies of migration have been conducted in various academic fields, and various research methodologies have been employed.  This qualitative study explores the roles of a social network which affects livelihoods of a migrant group specifically “the Thai-Aus migrant laborers”, Thai students who have studied and worked in Australia.
In-depth interviews were used to collect primary data from eighteen Thai student migrant laborers who have worked in Sydney, Australia. Key informants were selected using snowball sampling, and the ATLAS.ti computer program was used in data analysis. The results revealed that the social network of the Thai-Aus migrant laborers was constructed with personal relationships and collective experiences. The social network played a significant role in three aspects as follows. 1) Living adjustment: accommodation, food, language, and culture shock; 2) Employment: sources of job information, paths to employment, sources of advice about jobs, and work team; and 3) Advice on education: Australian education system, tutorial for examinations, educational problems and solutions.