Paramvir Singh was looking for a job and moving between cities like Perth, Canberra and Melbourne when he received his first job offer from Goulburn.
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After moving to the city five years back, he fell in love with the city and soon bought a house.
Currently working with the Corrections Department, he says that he has made Goulburn as his base.
"I got my first job and then bought my first house in Goulburn. This place will always have a sentimental value for me. I have lived in various parts of the state because of my job but have set up my base here for now," he said.
"This place and the people here have made me feel welcome.
"I think understanding the local society, norms, culture and language has played a key role and has helped me while interacting and communicating with people here.
Mr Singh was one of the 37 new residents welcomed into the Goulburn community as Australian citizens by Mayor Bob Kirk last month.
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He has previously lived in Perth, Canberra and Melbourne and has faced challenges while looking for a job initially.
"I was told by several interviewers that I did not have local experience or was overqualified for a job that I was applying for," he said.
"I have met people who have migrated and are facing difficulties in looking for a job in their occupation. I have an acquaintance who was a lawyer in her country but had to work at a till for sometime as she was unable to find work in her field."
He believes that people are unaware of various opportunities they can access once they migrate and more information can be given to help them out.
Over 400,000 Australians moved from capital cities in Australia to regional destinations between 2011 and 2016, a report released by Regional Australia Institute earlier this year stated.
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Even international migrants are showing strong preference for living in regional areas where they play a key role in maintaining population in small communities.
Now, a migration toolkit has been developed by the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) to respond to the information needs of rural and regional communities looking to settle migrants locally, whether they are coming in from big cities or overseas, entrants to Australia on skilled working visas or on humanitarian grounds.
"In outlining the key players and action behind settlement success, this toolkit will help empower more regional and rural communities to welcome and retain new migrants to fill jobs, create new economic opportunities, and promote population growth and sustainability," the report states.
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