Perth's migration leaders call for urgent policy shift as refugee intake soars

Senior figures working across Perth's migration and settlement sector are sounding alarm bells about the speed at which new arrivals are transforming the city, with calls for coordinated policy action to ease pressure on housing, employment services and social infrastructure.

The concerns were aired this week during a roundtable discussion hosted by the Western Australian Multicultural Commission at their offices near the riverside precinct in East Perth. Participants included settlement agency leaders, local council representatives, and academics specialising in migration trends.

Officials pointed to figures showing Perth's migrant intake has accelerated dramatically, with applications for skilled migration visas up nearly 40 per cent year-on-year. Housing affordability has emerged as a critical flashpoint—median rental prices in traditionally multicultural neighbourhoods like Northbridge and Mirrabooka have risen 22 per cent in the past 18 months, according to local real estate data.

"We're seeing families arriving with qualifications that aren't immediately recognised in Australia," said one senior settlement officer, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Without proper bridging support and credential assessment hubs, we risk wasting human capital and frustrating newcomers."

The Migrant Resource Centre Perth, based in Claisebrook, reported a 35 per cent surge in inquiries for housing assistance in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, employment services across the city are stretched thin—wait times for settlement workers have extended from four weeks to nearly two months.

Local government representatives flagged concerns about planning and infrastructure. City of Perth officials noted that public health services, language classes, and school places in high-arrival areas are reaching capacity. Schools in suburbs like Cannington and Thornlie, which have traditionally welcomed new families, report enrolment growth outpacing funding allocations.

Experts are pushing for a three-pronged approach: accelerated credential recognition programs delivered through institutions like Curtin University and ECU, targeted investment in affordable housing partnerships with developers, and enhanced language and skills bridging programs across community hubs including those in Northbridge and Bentley.

"Perth has always been a gateway," remarked one policy analyst involved in the discussions. "But gateways need infrastructure. Without proactive planning, we risk creating bottlenecks that undermine both newcomer success and community cohesion."

The Western Australian government is expected to respond to the sector's recommendations within the next quarter, with potential amendments to settlement service funding frameworks already under consideration.

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