I want to live in a world where refugees are able to find safety, rebuild their lives and realise their dreams in a society which is welcoming and inclusive. I believe that by working collectively we can achieve positive change but this requires a genuine commitment to listening, a humble openness to learning and the courage to try new things.
It is often not the people with their names up in lights, but the unseen changemakers who are making the biggest impact. This blog is an effort to document stories and inspiration from organisations and people that are working tirelessly to build inclusive communities and improve the lives of refugees around the world.
It features insights from my current research as part of a PhD at Western Sydney University where I am exploring the experiences of regional communities welcoming refugees in both Australia and Japan. This research is part of the Settling Well in Regional Australia Project which aims to provide the first longitudinal, comparative assessment of the impacts of the settlement of people from refugee backgrounds in regional Australia, for both people from refugee backgrounds themselves and the communities in which they settle.
This blog also captures the learnings and reflections from my Churchill Fellowship project in 2019 which saw me travel to over 20 towns in Canada, USA, Germany, Norway and Sweden to investigate strategies to support the secondary migration of refugees to regional and rural towns. This study resulted in the publication of The Right Fit: Attracting and Retaining Newcomers in Regional Towns, a toolkit for regional communities and policy makers. It also influenced the design and implementation of the NSW Growing Regions of Welcome (GROW) Pilot Program in Australia as part of my role working for the New South Wales Government.
I have over 15 years’ experience working with refugee and migrant communities through roles in settlement organisations, public policy and research. I hold a Master of Development Studies (Refugees and Displacement) from the University of NSW, and a Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts (Japanese and Asian Studies) from Flinders University.
I’m always keen to make new connections, so please do not hesitate to reach out! You can contact me via the contact page or my LinkedIn.
Talia Stump