Bathurst was formally declared a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2013 following a resolution by Bathurst Regional Council.

Under the terms of the resolution, being a Refugee Welcome Zone means that refugees are welcomed into the Bathurst community; the region pledges to uphold the human rights of refugees; the region understands their experiences; and the region acknowledges that refugees can – and do – balance our cultural and religious diversities.

A report to Wednesday night’s council meeting by cultural and community services director Alan Cattermole seeks to take that commitment further.

He recommends councillors support a NSW Government proposal to resettle Safe Haven Enterprise visa holders in Bathurst and that council convenes a refugee employment forum in 2017 to promote awareness of local job opportunities.

Plans for the forum follow an approach to council by members of the Bathurst Refugee Support Group (BRSG).

“The forum will aim to raise awareness of refugee issues surrounding employment opportunities for refugees, which is one of the fundamental issues of resettlement,” Mr Cattermole states in the report.

Mr Cattermole said there were many benefits to the Bathurst region in actively welcoming refugees.

“As the experience of other regional NSW towns shows, the well-managed settlement of refugees can provide economic and cultural benefits,” the report states.

“Needed skill-sets can be brought in to help businesses grow and diversify. Increased cultural diversity can further enrich Bathurst, while planning for the settlement of refugees will enable the better integration of services relating to newcomers.

“The proposed initiative would raise the profile of Bathurst through recognition by government and interaction with other towns around refugee, migrant and cultural issues.”

BRSG offers hospitality to refugees and asylum seekers who either live locally or are here visiting.

Refugees requiring short-term respite are offered temporary use of the Kath Knowles House of Welcome, a cottage here in Bathurst.