Government policy in many countries encourages migration to regional centres to relieve pressure on major cities and to boost economic development. Migrants are more likely to remain in a new location if they have meaningful work and establish social connections there. This article explores how organisations and groups in a regional city provide newcomers with access to social capital resources which migrants can use to forge social connections. Past research has shown that migrants require a mix of linking, bridging and bonding social capital to form an effective primary social contract with their new home. This research suggests that regional cities – such as Geelong, Victoria – which are proactive in assembling diverse social capital resources and making them accessible to migrants, are more likely not only to receive more newcomers but also more likely to retain migrants and a skilled workforce. The findings have relevance to other regional centres.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	migrants, social capital, regional dvelopment
Research Division:	Studies in Human Society
Research Group:	Anthropology
Research Field:	Social and Cultural Anthropology
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health)
Objective Field:	Health Status (e.g. Indicators of Well-Being)
UTAS Author:	Kilpatrick, S (Professor Sue Kilpatrick)
ID Code:	85281
Year Published:	2015 (online first 2013)
Web of Science® Times Cited:	3
Deposited By:	Academic Division
Deposited On:	2013-06-25
Last Modified:	2016-09-30
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