Regional Futures Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo A JOINT AMES AUSTRALIA AND DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS REPORT CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The report is the product of a collaboration INDEX FIGURES between AMES Australia and Deloitte Executive Summary 3 Figure 1A: Impact Assessment Access Economics. AMES Australia Framework 5 evaluated the social impact of the Karen in 1 Introduction 5 Bendigo and managed the primary survey Figure 1B: Labour market snapshot: 1.1 Purpose 5 data collection, and Deloitte Access Bendigo and Victoria 2016 8 1.2 Impact Assessment Framework 5 Economics assessed the economic Figure 2A: Map of Greater Bendigo 12 impact of the Karen on Bendigo. The 1.3 Background to Resettlement Karen population in Bendigo generously in Bendigo 7 Figure 2B: Population of Bendigo, participated in the data-collecting 1.4 Timeline 10 2016, by age 12 interviews, and members of the Bendigo 1.5 Report Structure 11 Figure 2C: Components in forecast community were equally generous in population change 2011 - 2021 13 making time to talk to AMES Australia and 2 Regional profile of Greater Deloitte Access Economics. Bendigo 12 Figure 2D: School attainment in Bendigo, 2016 14 AMES Australia and Deloitte Access 2.1 Demographics 12 Economics would like to thank the following: 2.2 Economy 13 Figure 2E: Diversity in Bendigo, 2016 15 • Nanthu Kunoo, Nay Chee Aung and 2.3 Social Indicators 14 Figure 3A: Additional Bendigo GRP Ashin Moonieda who assisted us 2.4 Population Diversity 15 ($ million) 18 arrange the interviews with the Karen Figure 3B: Additional Bendigo population. 3 Economic impact 17 employment (FTE and headcount; • Members of the Karen community in 3.1 Gross Regional Product 18 cumulative) 18 Bendigo who administered the survey. 3.2 Employment 18 • Staff from Bendigo Community Health Figure 3C: Karen labour market 3.3 Household Consumption 24 Services, Bendigo Senior Secondary employment in Bendigo by Industry for College, Bendigo Dental Health 3.4 Demographic Impacts 24 those who responded to the Census in Services, City of Greater Bendigo, 2011 and 2016 19 4 Social impact 26 Bendigo Justice Service Centre, Figure 3D: Additional Household 4.1 Diversification of Bendigo 26 Matchworks, Bendigo Baptist Church Consumption in Bendigo ($ million) 24 and Community Care (MADCOW 4.2 Social Capital: Responsive Cleaning), the Karen Buddhist Services 27 Figure 3E: Current Age Profile Of The Karen Population In Bendigo 24 Dhamma Dhutta Foundation, Loddon 4.3 Employment and Improved Campaspe Multicultural Services, Standard of Living 32 Hazeldenes Chicken Farm Pty Ltd, TABLES 4.4 Karen Youth: Opportunities and Keech Castings Pty Ltd, and Urban Table 2.1: Bendigo employment Career Pathways 33 Garden Designs. by industry (2016) 14 5 Conditions significant in the LIMITATION OF THE WORK Table 3.1: Economic modelling successful resettlement of the impacts - annual 17 The economic modelling contained in Karen community in Bendigo 36 this report was prepared solely for the Table 3.2: AMES Survey Data 19 1. Employment 37 purpose of assisting AMES Australia 2. Accommodation 37 Table 3.3: AMES Survey of Karen People in understanding the impact of the Employment (Numbers Commenced, resettlement of the Karen people to 3. Leadership 37 Initial Position) 21 Bendigo. The economic modelling in 4. Pathways for young people 38 Table 3.4: Projected Working-age this report is not intended for any other 5. Responsive services 38 purpose and should not be referred to, Population as a Proportion of Total 6. Natural advantage of used or relied upon by anyone else without Population 25 regional centres 39 the consent of Deloitte Access Economics Pty Ltd. We accept no duty of care to any other person or entity, other than AMES Australia for the use of this report. August 2018 2 Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Bendigo EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Regional settlement of migrants and According to the 2016 Census, over the For the Karen, it is evident in the levels refugees is an important component ten years since 2006, more than 800 and types of employment they are in the advancement of Australia’s Karen people settled in Bendigo4; experiencing, improved standards of migration strategies and, when “Bendigo is a very different place from living, including home ownership, and well-facilitated, makes a significant what it was ten years ago. It is much greater opportunities and career pathways contribution to the economic and more multicultural now with different for young people. Karen people see a social fabric of regional communities. faces on the streets.”5 good and sustainable future in Bendigo. The purpose of this study is to Resettlement of the Karen in Bendigo has In addition to this social contribution, examine one example of such been sustained – evidencing the region’s economic modelling undertaken by migration, as well as further illuminate attractiveness as a settlement location for Deloitte Access Economics provides an the community facilitation and the this community – and has progressively indication of the scale of the economic conditions that need to be in place in contributed to a more ethnically diverse impact. In net present value terms order to deliver better economic and Bendigo, impacting many aspects of (NPV) over a 10 year period, the total social outcomes from the regional Bendigo society, including an increase economic impact from the regional settlement of migrants. in social capital. Social capital has been resettlement of the Karen population on This study is the product of a research directly linked to broader concepts such the Bendigo economy is estimated to have collaboration between AMES Australia and as social cohesion, democracy, economic been $67.1 million, with an associated Deloitte Access Economics and focuses wellbeing and sustainability.6 In similar impact on employment of 177 full-time- on resettlement of Karen refugees in findings to the Nhill study, the research equivalent (FTE). Further modelling of Greater Bendigo (Bendigo), a substantial undertaken to inform this report finds the demographic profile of the Karen regional centre in central Victoria with a increased social capital for the host population, which currently comprises a population of 110,4791 in 2016. This study, community and new settlers alike. disproportionately high share of people part of a program of focus on regional aged under 18 indicates, that all things For Bendigo, not only is the city now and rural resettlement, is a companion being equal, the Karen labour force will a more diverse community, but the report to Small towns Big returns2 a study continue to grow over time, adding to the community itself values that increased of resettlement in a much smaller rural productive capacity of the region in years diversity. This is evidenced by the economy (Nhill, with a population of to come. responsiveness of local services who have 2,2783). These companion studies provide found ways to support the resettlement of an analysis of the social and economic the Karen in Bendigo. impacts of the Karen on these locations over time, and the factors contributing to the success of the resettlement of the Karen in these two very different regional contexts. 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au. 2 AMES and Deloitte Access Economics, 2015, Small towns Big returns: Economic and social impact of the Karen resettlement in Nhill. 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011 Census of Population and Housing (the most recent Census at the time of writing Small towns Big returns). 4 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au. 5 Matthew Parkinson Community Care Director Bendigo Baptist Community Care Inc. 6 Australian Institute of Family Studies, Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.4 Spring/Summer 2003 p.13-16; http://www.aifs.gov.au/sf/pubs/bull4/ws.html (accessed 14 August 2014). A joint AMES Australia and Deloitte Access Economics Report 3 As in the small rural economy of Nhill, the However, while critical in both locations, Indications are that benefits will continue necessary factor in the success of the employment was not of itself sufficient to accrue as the community continues to Karen resettlement has been employment. for successful resettlement. A number integrate, and the assets and aspirations The availability of regular, reliable and fair of other contributing factors have also represented by the younger Karen work at a large employer, Hazeldenes been identified: population are realised in Bendigo. Chicken Farm Pty Ltd, has been a • capacity and capability of local Considered in conjunction with Small significant drawcard in attracting and services to respond to new settlers towns Big returns, this report tells us that, retaining the Karen in Bendigo. Willingness • leadership and support from local large or small, rural communities can to adapt or develop workplace practices champions, and leadership from within benefit economically and socially from to facilitate the integration of these new the Karen community regional resettlement, when approached settlers was integral to this attraction • opportunities for young people to in (contextually) appropriate ways. Herein and retention. participate in training, employment lies additional economic and social Over the ten years of the Karen and in the community contributions for Bendigo into the future, resettlement, the number of businesses • affordable housing for both rental but more particularly for other regional employing Karen workers has grown and purchase Australian communities to catalyse. to more than 50, and the number of • the natural advantages of large industries where the Karen are employed regional centres that offer services increased from three to eight between and opportunities within an easier to 2011 and 20167. navigate environment. 7 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016 Census of Population and Housing, accessed through TableBuilder on 15/01/2018 www.censusdata.abs.gov.au.