Give and take (and return): The 'symbolic exchange' and the settlement of Ezidi refugees in Armidale, Australia

Over the past decade and a half, Australian governments have sought to increase settlements of immigrants and refugees in small and medium-sized regional towns, with a view to promoting regional economic development in areas that may be experiencing population decline, labour shortages and declining services. While many of these settlement programs have been regarded as ‘successful’, challenges have also been experienced in areas such as employment and education opportunities, housing, and access to services in general (e.g. Curry, Smedley & Lenette, 2018). Against this backdrop, the broad aim of this paper is to explore factors which have enabled and constrained the successful settlement of Ezidi refugees in the regional town of Armidale, Australia. Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with symbolic’ dimension is crucial to understanding the settlement experiences of Ezidi refugees in Armidale, Australia.