Beyond the Edge: Australia's First National Peri-urban Conference La Trobe University October 2013

1. Regional skilled migrants’ living experiences in the City of Greater Bendigo
Naduni Wickramaarachchi
La Trobe University

2. 
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Need of regional skilled immigration policies?
-Release population pressure in Metropolitan areas
-Support regional and rural development
Victorian Policy Frame Work

3. - There is only limited number of research in Australian
context in relation to regional skilled immigrants’ living
experience
- Bulk of research in Australia is based on metropolitan areas
- Most of the studies explored the factors that influence them
to move back to metropolitan areas
- Less is known about regional immigrants’ living experiences
in a regional city
- Past studies have pointed out the need of doing research on
regional immigrants’ settlement experiences ( Hugo,2008;
Hugo, Kahoo & Mcdonald 2006; Missingham, Dibden, &
Cockin,2006; Townsend, Pascal & Delves,2013; Wulff &
Dharmalingam, 2008)

4. 


Research into the way that ethnically diverse societies built
trust , social capital and social cohesion
Two different perspectives :
- Diversity fosters interethnic tolerance and social
solidarity
- Diversity erodes social capital
Australian context
Positive relation in regional areas (Townsend et al.,2013;
Carrington & Marshall,2008)
Low level of social cohesion, integration in Metropolitan
area (Healy, 2007; Lobo,2009)

5. 
Method – Qualitative method
In depth interviews

Sample – Snow ball sampling method
Participants- Asian regional skilled migrants

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Study location – The City of Greater Bendigo
Limitations
- Proportion may be imbalance to larger skilled
immigrants population in the City of Greater Bendigo
- Cannot be generalized to whole regional and rural
areas of Australia

6. 
Positive experiences
- Limited number of multicultural population
- Calm and quiet living
- Affordability and convenience
Negative experiences
- Limited number of job opportunities
- Education facilities
- Feelings of unfairness

7. 
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
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Positive encouragement for regional cities to retain
immigrants
Need of economic development in regional areas
Education facilities
Low level of trust and low level of social capital in a
more ethnically diverse society
Separation between the skilled immigrants and
humanitarian migrants

8. Sustainability of regional immigration program and the
development of regional areas
◦ Strong economic growth
◦ Education facilities
◦ Social network building – locals, skilled immigrants and
humanitarian migrants
◦ Facilities to enjoy their cultural events