In recent years, successive federal governments have turned to regional areas to offer a home for people who arrive in Australia under our humanitarian program, fleeing conflict or persecution.

The NSW city of Armidale is Australia’s newest regional settlement location, with around 300 refugees arriving in the region between March 2018 and February 2019.

When the Federal Government announced Armidale as a new settlement location in 2017, many community members responded positively with offers of donations and volunteering to assist the new arrivals. However, community concerns were also evident on social media and through calls to Armidale Regional Council.