Looking for Rural Idyll ‘Down Under’: International Immigrants in Rural Australia

Abstract

This article outlines the empirical findings of the first national longitudinal study of almost 1,000 recent immigrants who decided to move to non-metropolitan Australia. The national survey (2008-2010) identified that new international immigrants tend to move to rural areas because of the natural beauty, lifestyle and community spirit to be found there, as well as the idyllic image of peacefulness and a relaxing environment associated with these areas. Natural attractors, such as rurality and climate, were important features of the places which, according to the survey, were particularly liked. However, there is tension between the imagined Australian rural ideal and reality, with remoteness, isolation and parochialism being the key features in how the countryside may be misrepresented. The retention of new immigrants in rural places is very strongly related to constructed attractorsthe availability and quality of infrastructure, as well as recreational, entertainment and cultural activities.

Migrant Identities in a New Immigration Destination: Revealing the Limitations of the ‘Hard working’ Migrant Identity

“…The construction of migrant as a marker of identification in these areas is often applied. Researchers have begun to study different aspects including the distinctive ‘rural cosmopolitanism’ (Torres et al ., ; Popke, ; Krivokapic Skoko et al , ; Woods, ) and the emerging transnational/transregional relations (Göler & Krišjāne, ). Although there has been some interest in employer and employee relations in NIDs [see, for instance, Rogaly () and Rye and Andrzejewska ()], it has not been thoroughly examined.…”

Internal Migration in Spain: Dealing with Multilateral Resistance and Nonlinearites

“…Additionally, amenities or quality of life factors are also driving forces of internal migration (Knapp and Graves, ; Rappaport, ; Partridge, ; Rodríguez‐Pose and Ketterer, ; Krivokapic‐Skoko and Collins, ). We use three different variables to measure amenities.…”

Responding to Negative Public Attitudes towards Immigration through Analysis and Policy: regional and unemployment dimensions

“…schooling, health, transport, and recreation) and attachment to the local community. Social adaptation of immigrants in regional Australia has been more specifically studied for example by Wulff and Dharmalingham (2008) and Krivokapic-Skoko and Collins (2016). These studies have found that social connectedness in regional centres is strong for those immigrants who have lived in Australia for longer periods, for families with children and for immigrants from certain countries.…”

“…They found that South African, Zimbabwean and the Filipino-born develop particularly strong local connections. Krivokapic-Skoko and Collins (2016) have also observed that the existence of 'meeting places' that cultural groups can use, plays a role in developing a sense of belonging locally and attracts immigrants to specific regional centres.…”