Humanitarian Settlement in Regional Australia
Overview
The Australian Government delivers support to eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants within the first 5 years of arrival. This is done in partnership with state, territory, and local governments and in line with the National Settlement Framework. The National Settlement Framework sets out the commitment of government to support settling migrants and new arrivals in Australia. The Framework has 9 priority settlement support service areas:
- language services
- employment
- education and training
- housing
- health and well-being
- transport
- civic participation
- family and social support
- justice
The Australian Government settles humanitarian entrants in 21 regional locations across Australia, outside of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Regional settlement
Regional settlement offers many humanitarian entrants the chance to rebuild their lives in a safe and friendly environment. Some humanitarian entrants come from rural backgrounds and prefer to live and work in regional communities.
Many humanitarian entrants go on to socially and economically contribute to their new communities in Australia. This includes opening small businesses, helping to fill labour shortages and stimulating the local economy, schools and services.
The Department is aware that for increased regional settlement to be successful, a sustainable and coordinated approach is required. This approach prioritises the needs of both humanitarian entrants moving to regional locations and the communities that support them.
Factors that can contribute to successful regional settlement include:
- community engagement and opportunities for place-based approaches
- receiving communities that address the priority settlement areas of the National Settlement Framework (prioritising English language, employment and education)
- a co-ordinated approach across the three tiers of government
- education and support for employers who want to, and do employ migrants, for example:
- cultural awareness training
- organising English language support for employees
- awareness of migrant qualifications and expectations
- long-term job opportunities that match migrants’ skills and ambitions
- regional settlement champions in the receiving and relocating communities
When looking at opportunities to settle humanitarian entrants in regional areas, the Government considers:
- the existence of suitable and affordable housing
- opportunities for work
- critical supports, such as health and language services
- opportunities for new arrivals to connect with, and feel safe in, a new home with a welcoming community
Other important factors to support new arrivals include ample infrastructure and the availability of settlement, mainstream and community services.
In settling humanitarian entrants, it is crucial to ensure each person receives the best support possible. Some entrants have suffered torture and trauma before arriving in Australia or have complex health issues. It is important that these entrants settle in places with access to suitable counselling and other specialist services. Where entrants have existing 'links' in Australia, such as family, friends or their proposer, the Government will generally settle entrants near their links so they can receive valuable social and settlement support.
To help new arrivals settle in regional communities, a range of settlement services are available to clients including:
Humanitarian entrants can access these services simultaneously.
