The Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s continued recognition of migration as central to Australia’s economic future, saying the 2026–27 Federal Budget reflects the important role migrant and refugee communities play in strengthening workforce participation, productivity and national capacity.
SCOA said Australia’s success has never come from migration policy alone, but from pairing migration with world-leading settlement infrastructure that enables people to participate, contribute and build long-term connection to community.
SCOA Board Chair Melissa Monteiro said the Budget presents an important opportunity to deepen that national investment.
“At a time when migration is increasingly debated through the language of economic anxiety and division, it is important to recognise that Australia’s prosperity has been built in significant part through migration and successful settlement,” Ms Monteiro said.
“For decades, Australia distinguished itself internationally not simply by attracting migrants, but by investing in the institutional architecture that helped people participate economically, socially and civically.”
SCOA welcomed continued investment in refugee employment pathways, multilingual health initiatives, migrant worker protections and measures to strengthen workforce participation and skills recognition.
SCOA CEO Maria Dimopoulos said settlement services should be understood as enabling infrastructure within Australia’s broader productivity agenda.
“The contribution of migration to productivity does not occur automatically,” Ms Dimopoulos said.
“It is strengthened through trusted settlement organisations that help people navigate systems, access employment, build confidence, learn English, establish businesses, engage in education and participate fully in community life.”
Ms Dimopoulos said Australia’s settlement model has historically been one of the country’s greatest policy strengths and remains critical to long-term social cohesion and economic participation.
“The settlement sector is not asking government to choose between productivity and social investment,” she said.
“We are saying these outcomes are deeply connected.”
“Australia’s long-term economic strength depends on maintaining the civic and community infrastructure that allows people from all backgrounds to contribute fully and confidently over time.”
SCOA said continued investment in settlement capability would remain essential as Australia navigates workforce transformation, demographic change and growing global displacement.
“A confident, productive and cohesive society is built not only through migration settings, but through the institutions that support participation, belonging and contribution,” Ms Dimopoulos said.
About the Settlement Council of Australia: The Settlement Council of Australia is the national peak body representing organisations supporting the settlement and inclusion of refugees and migrants across Australia.
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Media contacts:
Maria Dimopoulos, Settlement Council of Australia, ph 0477 244 233 maria.dimopoulos@scoa.org.au