Filling empty jobs
Ararat, like most regional towns, has an ageing population and a drift of young people to the cities.
The program is reinvigorating the town and creating a vibrant, multicultural community.
"It gives our local employers confidence that they can invest and grow, which is really giving a boost to this community," said Tim McDougall, the council's economic development lead.
"Not only in [the] workforce but the way that they live and integrate with this community."
Migrants, refugees make up worker shortfall in Ararat. By Tim Lee, ABC News