Submission to the Joint Standing Committee inquiry into migration in regional Australia

This submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration inquiry into migration in regional Australia brings together the perspectives of a partnership between academics, researchers and policy stakeholders from the Monash Migration and Inclusion Centre (MMIC), The Scanlon Foundation, and Welcoming Cities.The submission contains an overview of our shared perspectives on the opportunities and risks associated with regional migration, including a definition of ‘successful settlement’ which underpins our submission.It then summarises the key success factors of regional settlement based on the findings of our on-going research. This section responds to the Committee’s Terms of Reference concerning national and international best practice strategies to encourage people to settle and stay in regional areas.Lastly, the submission outlines our policy recommendations, which emphasise strategic investment and institutional mechanisms to support settlement programs. This section addresses the Committee’s Terms of Reference concerning strategies to develop regional skilled/humanitarian migration, and relevant migration policy, including administration and state specific migration mechanisms.Five policy recommendations are then offered.