Local Government is increasingly involved in welcoming migrants and/or refugees, either as a Council that has a large number of migrants or refugees settling in their area (such as Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Cairns and Townsville) or as a regional or rural Council interested in attracting skilled migrants to increase population levels and/or to fill shortages in workforce skills that are not able to be filled within Australia.

Governments at all levels in Australia are currently exploring the potential of settling greater numbers of migrants and some humanitarian entrants to Australia in regional and rural areas.

Fore more up to date information on what to do if you are interested in attracting migrants to your area, please go to the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry.
 
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides a wide range of resources and settlement information online.  Booklets on Beginning a Life in Australia  are available in 37 languages.   

The Multicultural Affairs Branch of DIMIA, supported by the Department of Transport and Regional Services, organise Leading Practice Seminars that aim to share experience between local governments on how they are making the most of their local cultural diversity. 

The Local Government Association of Queensland has launched Settling Migrants: A Guide for Queensland Local Government.  The online guide which can be viewed on LGOnline was developed in collaboration with the Federal and Queensland State Governments.  It is designed to provide assistance to Councils and communities wishing to attract and settle migrants in their communities.