Multicultural Action Plan (PDF - 2.5MB) - City of Greater Geelong

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Post World War II Migration
Geelong was the eventual destination for the post World
War II resettlement of displaced people. People from the
Baltic states, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Greece, Poland
and the Ukraine as well as people of Slovenian, Serbian
and Croatian backgrounds were the main groups attracted
to Geelong by the availability of housing and nearby jobs.
Migrant families could settle in the Norlane Migrant Hostel
(D W Hope Centre) where living conditions were basic.
Thousands of jobs were available at expanding industries
and companies like Ford, Pivot, Winchester Rifles and
International Harvester. By meeting people at the hostel,
migrants were often able to find work. 9
Even with the increase of post war migrants from all
over Europe, the pre war public policy and community
expectation of assimilation continued. Ethnic communities
worked together establishing social, recreational, religious
and economic groups and opportunities. These networks
and groups pressured and lobbied for change to the
existing policies.
In the early 1970s the government officially abandoned
the policy of assimilation and strongly promoted the policy
of multiculturalism on a bipartisan political approach.
This opened the door for refugees from South East Asia
particularly from Vietnam and Cambodia, who settled or
were sponsored to settle in Geelong.
Successive waves of migration continue to the present
day and Geelong has welcomed a range of migrants and
refugees from all over the world.
9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Australia “A Fresh Start in a New Land” Edited by Norm Gibson Rowick Printers 1988
10 http://forecast2.id.com.au/default.aspx?id=268&pg=5000
CITy OF GREATER GEELOnG
The Changing Landscape
Today, Geelong’s economy is very different to the one of
60 years ago. Manufacturing is still important but now only
14 per cent of the workforce is employed in this sector.
The largest employment sectors are now health, education,
tourism and retailing. Skilled migrants arriving today are
bringing skills in areas where we have a shortage of local
workers, for example in the health sector and technical
areas such as engineering and research. As the labour
force ages over the next decade, skilled migrants will be
important to local prosperity.
Geelong is a centre of excellence for education. Deakin
University, the Gordon Institute of TAFE and a number of
private organisations provide services that are unique in
regional Australia. In 2010 there were more than 2,000
international students estimated to be studying at all in
Geelong. At the end of their study some might remain
in Australia and contribute locally while others will head
home or to somewhere else in the world. Their Australian
education is highly regarded and widely recognised. Our
refugee and humanitarian entrants, some of whom are
highly qualified and skilled, also contribute much to the
culture of Geelong through cultural events including
traditional food, music, costumes and language.