The 2026 Settlement Guide, Directory and Supports booklets provide essential information to help new residents settle in the Wimmera, including a “first 10 things to do” checklist, services, activities, regional life and emergency guidance. Online versions can be downloaded for print. Hard copies are available upon request and distributed to services, support organisations and health and education providers across the region.
Download printable PDFs: Settlement Guide | Settlement Directory | Settlement Supports
About Settlement Services
This program helps individuals and families from migrant and refugee backgrounds to settle into life in the Hindmarsh, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack shires.
We provide new arrivals with settlement-related information, advice, advocacy, and assistance to access mainstream and other relevant services. We help them to become independent and self-reliant and able to participate in Australian society as soon as possible.
The program is largely funded through the Federal Government’s Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS).
Services are delivered in accordance with a needs-based approach and align with the 10 priority areas identified in the National Settlement Framework (385kb PDF).
Types of services
Services include individual client casework, assistance with driving lessons, homework clubs, social networks such as playgroups and sewing group, and linkages to other support services.
WSMD considers migration a primary driver to the prosperity of the region and works with a range of partners and stakeholders to deliver services, support communities and advocate for migration as a regional priority issue.
Eligibility for individual casework
Permanent residents with low level of English proficiency who arrived in Australia during the past five years as:
- Humanitarian entrants
- Family stream migrants with low English proficiency
- Dependents of skilled migrants in rural and regional areas with low English proficiency
- Selected other stream visas – see Eligible visa subclasses on the Department of Home Affairs website
- Selected temporary residents (Prospective Marriage, Provisional Partner visa holders and their dependents) in rural and regional areas who have arrived in the past five years and who have low English proficiency; or
- Dependents of selected temporary residents (Provisional Skilled, Provisional Business or Investment) in rural and regional areas who have arrived in the past five years and who have low English proficiency.
Read more about the work we are doing with multicultural communities
Drought Resilience: Multicultural Youth – Wimmera Southern Mallee Development (wsm.org.au)
Caring for the elderly and people with a disability in the Karen community.
Harmony and Cultural Diversity Week celebrations
Come together to celebrate Harmony and Diversity week across the Wimmera. Celebrations will take place from the 14th to the 28th of March, with a range of activities, events and performances.
Click here for the Fortnight Fest calendar and event details.
