We roll out WELCOME mat
Conference highlights success
HUNDREDS of people have heard why Toowoomba is a refugee resettlement success story.
A special conference at the Civic Precinct this week has thrown the spotlight on Toowoomba’s welcoming efforts.
ABOUT 200 people from all around Australia have ascended on Toowoomba to hear why it is considered a refugee resettlement success story.
The inaugural Regions of Settlement conference, hosted by Multicultural Development Australia (MDA), kicked off yesterday at the Civic Precinct.
MDA chair Peter Forday said the delegates included local government members, NGOs, business and more.
“Toowoomba sets an incredible model for the rest of the country,” Mr Forday said.
The conference comes as new research revealed refugees felt more at home in Toowoomba than anywhere else in Queensland.
“According to our survey of 155 newly arrived adult refugees and 59 children from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan who settled in Queensland (in suburban Brisbane and in regional Logan and Toowoomba), those who settled in Toowoomba have had the easiest time integrating and feeling a part of their communities,” Professors Jock Collins and Carol Reid wrote in The Conversation.
The research also found Toowoomba welcomed refugees from all religious backgrounds, whereas Brisbane and Logan welcomed predominantly Christian refugees.
“Toowoomba has just been so successful in providing a welcoming and inclusive community, people are invited to come into the city, participate, give back to the community and there is a great sense of belonging that comes from that,” Mr Forday said.
“The upshot from that is Toowoomba is now hosting more people than anywhere else in Queensland. That includes Brisbane and Logan.
Mayor Paul Antonio said the region would continue to welcome many refugees and migrants to the region.
“We are passionate about resettling them and welcoming them in to our beautiful city and region,” Cr Antonio said.
The conference continues today.
Photo: Kevin Farmer