23/04/2026
Engaging on migration, settlement, and social cohesion in Western Sydney
Yesterday, our CEO, Dor Akech Achiek participated in a roundtable with the Assistant Minister for Immigration, Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, hosted by Hon. David Moncrieff MP (Member for Hughes). The discussion created a valuable space for community leaders to share perspectives on how immigration settings impact communities across South‑Western Sydney and the services that support them.
At the roundtable, Dor highlighted that Western Sydney navigates social cohesion challenges every day—shaped by rapid population growth, cultural and linguistic diversity, and persistent gaps in access to services, jobs, housing, and infrastructure. When growth outpaces investment, trust and inclusion are put under strain.
Drawing on decades of place‑based settlement experience in one of Australia’s largest settlement regions, Western Sydney MRC reaffirmed that sustainable migration programs must be place‑based, inclusive, and skills‑focused, aligned with the region’s growth and diversity.
Key priorities raised included:
1. Targeted skilled migration aligned to local labour shortages (healthcare, construction, education, logistics, clean energy), with clear pathways to permanence.
2. Strong settlement and language support, including adequate funding for specialised services, English classes, employment mentoring, and recognition of overseas qualifications.
3. Community‑led integration, investing in local organisations to build cross‑cultural connections and prevent social isolation.
4. Infrastructure and housing alignment, ensuring migration intakes match capacity in transport, schools, health services, and affordable housing.
5. Youth and family‑focused programs to support education, mental health, and employment pathways for second‑generation migrants.
6. Predictable, responsible humanitarian program growth through a multi‑year intake framework aligned to settlement capacity.
7. Protection‑focused humanitarian pathways that prioritise family unity as essential settlement infrastructure.
8. Sustained investment in settlement systems, strengthening coordination across community organisations, mainstream services, and government.
9. Complementary migration pathways that are truly additional to the core humanitarian program and do not shift costs onto refugee communities—while keeping accessibility and equity central.
We appreciate the opportunity for open dialogue and look forward to continued collaboration to ensure migration settings support strong, inclusive, and cohesive communities in Western Sydney.
