Immigration has been a great strength of this country. Although there is friction on some fronts around aspects of migration, there continues to be overwhelming support for the contribution that immigration can bring and the opportunities afforded to those who make this place their new home.
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A recent study gives hard evidence of the benefits migrants are bringing to regional centres, particularly those struggling with declining populations. According to a report by the Regional Australia Institute, 100 small rural communities that opened their arms to migrants have turned their fortunes around.
The study presented detailed examples of small communities that either grew or maintained a stable population thanks to the successful settlement of migrants.
The study's authors found the arrival of migrants had the effect of increasing regional economies and creating more jobs. The migrants taking up opportunities to settle in small rural towns are typically young, skilled and eager to work.
The push to bring new migrants to regional and rural areas is not new. Since 1995, successive federal governments have implemented a raft of regional immigration schemes and the results have generally been positive for both new migrants and the communities they now call home.
A 2012 study found the migrant population in regional and rural Australia is attaining stronger economic outcomes than in the past, and has closed the gap to reach broadly similar levels to the Australia-born populations of these regions for labour force participation, unemployment rates, median incomes and the percentage of employment in highly-skilled jobs.
But of course this is not a simple, quick fix and we note calls both from ethnic community groups and rural centres for well-rounded support to back these schemes.
The government deserves credit for its work to encourage newly arrived migrants to settle in regional centres. There is enormous potential for this process to benefit communities that are struggling with population decline and skill shortages and to provide opportunities for many migrants.
But the process needs to be thoughtfully enacted and supported. Policies ought to include strategies to foster positive attitudes towards multiculturalism, social cohesion and community harmony. Migrants who call these small rural communities home deserve our support to ensure that this process reaches its full potential.
