Regional Australia Institute CEO Jack Archer says that on top of housing affordability, job prospects also attract people to regional Australia.
“I think there are a lot of hidden opportunities for migrants in regional Australia. I think there's a diversity of jobs out there. There's demand for people who are looking for entry-level jobs, in the agricultural industry, in the service industry, both in big and small towns."
He says that it can be easier to connect with the community and achieve a sense of belonging in rural areas.
Settlement Council of Australia CEO Nick Tebbey also believes that living in regional Australia foster community.
But while there are plenty of good reasons to live in regional Australia, Tebbey says that migrants might struggle with the lack of services available to them outside of cities.
“The number one issue that we see is that regional locations are not always set up with the same level of service availability and delivery compared to the cities. So certainly, for migrants who are part of a more vulnerable cohort like migrants from a refugee background, it's much easier to access more services in bigger cities."
Sometimes, moving to regional Australia means that you won't be surrounded by your community and your language. But it's not necessarily the case.
All over the country, programs are created to attract migrants to regional areas.
Nick Tebbey gives the example of Mingoola, New South Wales, where African refugees have helped revigorate the town.
“A little town that realised that they were fast running out of community because people were moving away and so on, reached out of migrants in the city and said 'hey why don't you come and live up here?'. Working with a settlement service agency, they facilitated that move."
Jack Archer also gives the example of Pyramid Hill, in Victoria, a town with a thriving Filipino community.
“New migrants are connecting with local job opportunities and helping to revitalise country towns. The little town of Pyramid Hill north of Bendigo now has its Filipino fresh food specialty food store, in a town that has a very little supermarket itself. People are so excited about how that has rejuvenated that community."
If you're thinking about moving to regional Australia, both Jack Archer and Nick Tebbey say you have to do quite a bit of research to find the best area for you.
Get in touch with your local migrant centre to see if they can connect you to opportunities in regional areas.
Once you've identified places that you are interested in, contact the local council and check if there's a migrant resource centre there.
And before to make any decision, Archer suggest you go for a visit.
If you're thinking of making the move and want to compare local economies, the Regional Australia Institute has a tool for that on its website at regionalaustraliainstitue.org.au.
