A University of New England-led research team that has been monitoring community sentiment believes the Armidale experience suggests regional Australia is “fertile ground” for an expansion of refugee settlement. Their landmark findings, just released, show that residents’ concerns about refugees settling in Armidale gradually decreased and corresponded with an increase in positive “clusters” of attitudes.
“Our report challenges the stereotype of inner regional Australia as somewhat close-minded and resistant to change,” said lead researcher Dr Susan Watt, an Associate Professor in UNE’s School of Psychology. “What we found is a community of thoughtful people who were open to refugees and resettlement, and supportive of the settlement process.
“Comparing Armidale to national survey data suggests this positivity towards immigration and multiculturalism is not unique to Armidale; it’s a message about regional Australia more generally, which is in many cases experiencing population decline and where people see benefit in having newcomers inject life into their community.”
Armidale became the first new regional refugee settlement location in 11 years under the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Program when 650 Ezidi refugees, mostly from Iraq, began arriving in 2018. UNE researchers immediately began working with SSI, the non-profit organisation funded to provide on-arrival support to refugees in Armidale, to monitor community attitudes.
While many Armidale residents initially responded enthusiastically, offering to donate goods and provide voluntary assistance, some expressed concerns about the potential impact on the city. Regular surveys were a way to gather important information about how the community was responding and enable SSI and other stakeholders to respond to concerns as they emerged.
From 2018-2021, the research team conducted six waves of surveys to gauge Armidale’s attitudes to the refugee settlement, and to track perceived threats and benefits of the 2.8% population boost. They also re-interviewed over 300 participants to explore changes on an individual level. The results of the 1,530 interviews were shared progressively with SSI and stakeholders through a series of briefing sessions and community meetings.
Report co-author and SSI’s Head of Research and Policy, Dr Tadgh McMahon, said one of the early concerns expressed by the community was that local services might struggle to cope with refugees. In response, SSI delivered culturally responsive practice training to local service providers and established an interagency network of local charities and services to support the newcomers.
The real-time data collected through the surveys on emerging community attitudes was both unique and vital to the settlement process.
“SSI was acutely aware of balancing the needs of the newly arriving refugees with local community needs and resources,” Tadgh said. “We know that integration involves mutual adaptation by the host community and the newcomers, and we needed to balance the concerns and aspirations of both.
“We were just as interested in the attitudes of the people who were resistant to the influx of refugees as those who championed their arrival. Our community engagement team were able to apply the survey results as they emerged, to implement what was best for the community as a whole.”
SSI General Manager Newcomers, Settlement and Integration Yamamah Agha said maintaining open communication has been essential.
“To support social cohesion and acceptance of multiculturalism, SSI established a Humanitarian Settlement Program Network, which continues to bring all service providers together quarterly to share information,” she said. “This is an opportunity for the voices of the broader Armidale community and the Ezidi community to be heard and included in any collaborative programs we design.”
Dr Watt said the presence of Ezidi people in the community over time corresponded with a decline in community concerns about competition for jobs and the adequacy of local resources like housing.
“It seems that, in the early stages, the community had projected thoughts about the refugees and some people had concerns about how settlement would go,” she said. “But once the refugees were here and residents were seeing them around the community and in some cases having contact with them, there was a shift in thinking. It was as if the initial worries had not been realised, or perhaps Armidalians realised that some things, such as finding employment, take time.
“Attitudes became increasingly positive and more participants reported experiencing advantages of the settlement – like greater cultural diversity, broadening views, and benefits for business and the economy – than those who experienced disadvantages. Some people saw the Ezidis as bringing out the best in the Armidale community and commented on the happiness that brought.
“Of course, there were still some mixed feelings. Some people who were very positive and supportive of the refugees expressed angst over the settlement process and whether housing, services and employment would be adequate.”
Saaod Silo said the warm reception he received upon arrival in July 2019 has only gotten warmer over time. “The majority of Armidale people are very kind and respectful, and have been very good to us,” said Saaod, who is now studying at UNE to fulfill his dream to become a pharmacist. “They were good to us in the beginning but now that they know us better, they welcome us even more.”
The researchers expect their findings will inform future approaches to regional settlement services and policy in other parts of Australia.
“Our research refutes the binary stereotypes that a town is either ‘close-minded’ or ‘welcoming’ to refugees,” Tadgh said. “I think you can get the kind of results we have seen in Armidale if the full spectrum of community sentiment and needs are respected.”
Dr Watt said the results speak to how well the settlement process was handled and to the Ezidi people themselves. “They have gone to a lot of effort to reach out to the community, putting on community events, such as inviting Armidalians to monthly barbecues, and have tried to help the community to understand what they have been through.”
All but a couple of the original Ezidi families remain in Armidale almost five years later.
“They feel very welcome and are thriving,” Yamamah said. “A number have started their own businesses, some are attending university, others have bought houses and cars, and that’s the aim of any settlement program – to see people independent, navigating the system and feeling a sense of belonging.”
This month they even helped another 50 compatriots, as part of the latest wave of refugees, to settle in. Among those at the airport to greet them was Manal Kudeedah, who arrived with her parents and six siblings in June 2019. “I wanted to help make them feel comfortable and safe,” she said. “When I arrived it was really hard. I didn’t know English or anyone; everything was new. But the Armidale people have been very helpful to us.
“Our neighbours have visited us and shared food on special days. They have tried to be friends with us. Now Armidale is really like home. People are friendly and help us with anything we need.
