A few career changes ago, I managed a branding and design agency. Our primary task was to help our clients communicate their organisation, product or service. We worked to create a strong brand so that people would choose our client’s company or service over and above their many competitors. Since … Read More
A Tiny Country Town’s Unlikely Refugee Success Story
In the remote township of Nhill in western Victoria, Karen-Burmese refugees now make up 10 per cent of the town’s population and 18 per cent of the workforce – boosting the town’s economy and receiving a warm welcome from the local residents. Ciarán McCormack, a guest blogger for Amnesty International, … Read More
People On the Move: Global Migration’s Impact and Opportunity
Migration has become a flashpoint for debate in many countries. But McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) research finds that it generates significant economic benefits—and more effective integration of immigrants could increase those benefits. Migrants make up just 3.4 percent of the world’s population, but MGI’s research finds that they contribute nearly … Read More
6 Steps to Countering a Narrative of Fear
Welcome to Australia. A nation of contrasting landscapes, people and politics. Where we perform welcome to country at most major events, yet the traditional owners struggle for legitimacy and recognition on their land. Where almost everyone you meet has a migrant story, yet the current government is in a race … Read More
Hume takes lead in becoming Welcoming City for new arrivals
Hume City Council is one of the first local government authorities in Australia to officially join the recently established Welcoming Cities network. Launched in March this year, Welcoming Cities is working to grow a national network of local governments recognised for fostering a sense of community belonging and socioeconomic participation … Read More
The Missing Migrants
The Regional Australia Institute‘s study, The Missing Migrants, highlights a relatively untapped opportunity in rural and regional centres to fight declining populations and economic adversity. The study clearly presents migration as a solution to this problem; stating that “International migrants are missing from our vision of a successful regional Australia … Read More
When Fear Trumps Fact
As the dust begins to settle on Australia’s 2016 federal election, concerns are being raised about one of the clear outcomes – the return of Pauline Hanson and One Nation. The political party’s policies on multiculturalism, Islam, and immigration champion a return to assimilationist White Australia policy and zero net … Read More
Welcoming Cities Motion to be Proposed at National General Assembly
From the 19th to the 22nd of June the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) will hold its national conference. The ALGA recently put out a call for motions to be proposed and debated at this year’s National General Assembly of Local Government (NGA). Through the support of the City of Whittlesea, Welcoming … Read More
Migration is a Solution, Not a Problem
8 things a whirlwind trip across the United States revealed and reminded me about welcome In the last two weeks of April 2016, I had the opportunity to travel across the United States with a couple of my Welcome to Australia colleagues*. We began in Atlanta for Welcoming America’s national … Read More
The Economic Impact of Migration
This report documents the first comprehensive analysis in almost a decade of the impact of migration on our key economic indicators and the verdict is conclusive: migration is central to Australia’s future prosperity. Australia’s projected population will be 38 million by 2050 and migration will be contributing $1,625 billion (1.6 … Read More
Building Social Cohesion in Our Communities
Building Social Cohesion in Our Communities is an online evidence-based resource developed by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government for the Australian Human Rights Commission under the National Anti-Racism Strategy. Local governments know and understand their communities much better than any other level of government. Through strategic planning … Read More
Small towns, Big returns: Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Nhill
The 2015 AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics report Small towns, Big returns: Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Nhill highlights one of the most powerful examples of the social impact of immigration. The Karen resettlement in Nhill has helped to: redress population decline for the township … Read More
New Initiative to Boost Inclusive Communities
The Scanlon Foundation and Welcome to Australia have today launched a new national initiative to assist governments, businesses and individuals to work together to create more inclusive communities. Welcoming Cities, delivered in partnership with US not-for-profit Welcoming America, will foster meaningful collaboration between Australian local governments, and implement evidenced-based approaches … Read More
Multiculturalism ‘Good for Australia’ say 85% of Australians
The Scanlon Foundation has been looking at these perceptions over the past decade, and most recent research shows 85 per cent of Australians agree that multiculturalism has been good for the country. The Scanlon Foundation’s Multiculturalism Discussion Paper has been tracking people’s views across more than a decade of surveys. … Read More
How Diverse is Your Community?
Drawing on a range of data sources, SBS and Small Multiples have released an interactive tool that graphically displays the diversity of more than 8,500 suburbs. Key indicators that are used include ancestry, birthplace and religion. You can try it out for yourself, here. How diverse is the community in which … Read More