In 2019 the Australian federal government set a target to have 50% of new refugees settle in regional Australia by 2022. However, these areas away from the big cities have historically had difficulties retaining migrants, including refugees, and the government still has no overarching plan to address this.
Though the refugee resettlement program is largely paused at the moment due to COVID-19, when the borders reopen and refugees begin arriving again, the government will need a comprehensive strategy to encourage them to set up home in Australia’s lesser known regions.
Supportive environments
The lure of larger cities can lead refugees to leave regional areas in search of greater employment and educational opportunities as well as more diverse cultural communities.
