“Charles Sturt University’s stated mission is to build skills and knowledge in regional Australia and hence to contribute to the growth of regional economies and communities. The project will draw greater academic attention to the processes involved in migrant settlement-integration in some NSW regional communities and the holistic and multi-faceted nature of community processes.”
Those words from Professor Branka Krivokapic-Skoko | School of Business | capture why Charles Sturt University’s involvement in a major new national migration project is such a significant achievement. At a time when many regional communities are navigating population change, workforce shortages and evolving social needs, this ambitious research initiative places Charles Sturt at the centre of an important national conversation about the future of regional Australia.
The four-year Whole-of-Community Approaches to Regional Migration, Settlement and Retention project, funded through an Australian Research Council Linkage grant and led by Adelaide University, brings together researchers from Charles Sturt University, La Trobe University and Charles Darwin University, alongside governments, councils and leading migration organisations. Together, they will explore how regional communities across South Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria attract, welcome and retain migrants, and how these processes contribute to stronger communities, thriving local economies and sustainable regional development.
For Professor Krivokapic-Skoko, the project offers an opportunity to deepen understanding of migration and population change in regional New South Wales while ensuring the experiences and needs of local communities remain central to the research.
“The project will also add to the ongoing regional migration conversation by further focusing on the needs of different community stakeholders such as local businesses, agricultural producers, service providers (health, education, aged care), which are all experiencing pressing issues of labour force shortage.”
Her contribution reflects Charles Sturt’s longstanding commitment to research that delivers practical benefits for regional communities. The project aligns closely with the University’s mission and reinforces its reputation as a leader in addressing the opportunities and challenges shaping regional Australia.
Led by Associate Professor David Radford, the research team will take a broad and innovative approach to understanding migration and settlement.
“We’ll use a combination of novel mixed methods across regional sites to explore migration and settlement dynamics from all sections of regional communities,” Associate Professor Radford said.
The project also stands out for its commitment to genuine community partnership. As Associate Professor Radford notes, “It also includes Aboriginal communities as partners in the research, not simply as a backdrop to regional settlement.” This whole-of-community perspective recognises that successful settlement is shaped by the relationships, institutions and communities that help people feel connected and supported.
Launched in October with representatives from government, local councils, Indigenous community partners and migration organisations, the project signals a strong commitment to collaborative, community-led research.
The launch is both a celebration of national collaboration and a proud moment for Charles Sturt University. Through Professor Krivokapic-Skoko’s leadership and expertise, the University will help generate knowledge that supports more inclusive, vibrant and sustainable regional communities. Over the next four years, the project promises to strengthen understanding, inform policy, build partnerships and contribute to a future in which regional Australia continues to thrive through the contributions of diverse communities and cultures.
Branka’s research activities have focused on ethnic business communities, new forms of agricultural co-operation, and ethnic diversity in rural and regional Australia. She has also conducted research on psychological contracts in the context of the theory and practice of management.