However, since many are seeking low-income housing, the epidemic has brought large numbers of people into the region, and property has become increasingly scarce.
To address this drinking crisis, public and affordable housing, rent subsidies and ‘self-rent’ properties are essential for newcomers. In the long run, some areas of the region may need to be re-evaluated.
Another challenge is that regions often have low cultural diversity and newcomers may face racism and intolerance.
With racism on the rise in Australia and internationally, efforts to create local environments are particularly important for refugees in crisis. Different cultural communities can help immigrants feel a sense of belonging.
Local initiatives designed to create a sense of inclusion for newcomers – here they play as important cities.
Promoting such initiatives and partnering with local communities will help to prepare the local community and encourage newcomers to stay.
Roads to permanent settlement
As part of Australia’s tougher immigration policies, which include the repatriation of boats from the waters of Australia, and the handling of the sea, indefinite detention and permanent resettlement for migrants, there are currently about 20,000 people living on temporary temporary visas in Australia.
One of these visas – the Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) is specifically designed to attract refugees to regions and requires holders to apply to work and / or study in a designated region.
However, SHEV holders do not have the same services, rights, and residency status as permanent visa holders. This means that these temporary visas exacerbate mistrust, which is very detrimental to integration and mental health.
The effects of this precaution were evident during the epidemic. Australia’s policy on covad-19 funding for temporary visa holders has put many in financial strain, with some refusing to seek help for fear of repercussions.
A recent parliamentary request suggested that it provide easier access for trained refugees as well as international students. However, although SHEVs have literally paved the way for permanent visas, so far no one has been able to sustain the impact of the epidemic on the labor market due to strong language, education and employment standards.
Australia’s economic need to boost its refugee program and address labor shortages in regional areas is the next reasonable step to provide permanent residence for existing visa holders in the country. In the short term, one of the options is to issue temporary visas to temporary refugees in exchange for filling the shortage of workers due to the COVID-19 border closure.
Community support
A.D. In 2019, a government proposed a major community sponsorship program to focus on areas where individuals can directly participate in refugee resettlement efforts in Australia. However, it is still a small part of Australia’s humanitarian program compared to countries like Canada.
The current plan – Community Support Program (CSP) – allocates 1,000 seats each year but these places have been reduced from the total humanitarian program quota to 13,750. They have the potential to weaken sponsorship costs (up to $ 100,000) and job readiness and protection for specific countries.
The CSPP’s recent parliamentary review also highlighted the inability of communities to participate in the program. Australia, therefore, has some important lessons to learn from involving large communities in regional areas and learning community sponsorship like Canada. Expansion Humanitarian Program.
Now is the time to become a visionary
This is the perfect time for Australia to be a visionary in its policy vision for the benefit of both refugees and regional cities. But goals are not enough to build a successful regional settlement program.
Newcomers need to be better supported in regional areas, and improvements to immigration policy are needed to facilitate permanent settlement routes and expand community sponsorship. A highly focused strategy is needed to guide this, and this must be developed in collaboration with regional and refugee communities.
The epidemic underscores the need for such an integrated and participatory approach in Australia, and calls for an urgent overhaul of Australia’s temporary visa system.