More than 650 refugees arrived in this regional town. Locals' welcoming attitudes flipped the stereotype

Abstract

<p>Over four years, we examined a regional town's attitudes before and after hundreds of refugees settled in the area. Our surveys found residents of Armidale, in northeastern New South Wales, started out reasonably positive about the settlement program, and became even more so.</p><p>Over time, they had fewer concerns about the impact of refugees on the town, more contact with the refugees, and more positive attitudes towards refugees and the settlement program.</p>