Breaking the stigma of choosing to live in your regional hometown

A sense of failure can hang around the country kids who don't move to the bright city lights, to the land of multi-lane highways, merging and public transport. "I had a bit of a panic attack in the city, moved back to Mount Isa to regroup and then tried university again and left again for Brisbane," she says. "I think maybe people who used to live here were a bit concerned about it — like, why would you choose to come back to Mount Isa when you just got out?" Refugees in regional Aus share their stories Photo shows Prudence Melom stands in front of a colourful mural While regional communities are generally making new arrivals feel welcome, refugees in regional areas face ongoing challenges Dr Short worked in the Kimberley, the Torres Strait and through Queensland's cape as a nurse, but he knew his calling was to become a rural doctor. Understanding Australians living outside cities Photo shows Teen fixing a barbed wire fence on a farm to depict why we need to understand Australians' experiences outside the city bubble Understanding regional experiences might help remedy the resentment in the regions that they are overlooked and left out by decision makers, public and private.