The first 4 years: evolution of community attitudes towards refugees in a new rural resettlement location in Australia

This study examined the evolution of host community attitudes towards refugees in the first 4 years of a new rural resettlement location. We used threat, contact, and attribution theories to obtain a dynamic picture of responses to refugee settlement. Six telephone surveys with host community adults (N = 1,132) gathered cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Attitudes towards refugees became increasingly positive, perceived threats declined, intergroup contact initially grew and then decreased (during the pandemic), and the host community became more positive regarding the refugee intake numbers. Neighbours were perceived as more likely to help one another, and multicultural neighbourhoods were perceived as getting along increasingly well, although with a drop from 2020 to 2021. Interestingly, contact outcomes were attributed to refugees rather than self or circumstances. National survey data confirmed the changes did not reflect broader trends. These results demonstrate that even in less diverse rural areas, positive intergroup dynamics can develop, challenging stereotypes of closed-mindedness and resistance to newcomers.