Anne Kilcullen believes marginal rural towns could become more viable, retaining their hospitals and schools, if allowed to tender for asylum seekers who could repair vacant buildings and grow food for self-sufficiency.
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Dr Kilcullen's ''win-win'' idea is among 24 essays in Refugees and Asylum Seekers: finding a better way, which former governor general Sir William Deane will launch at Parliament House on Tuesday.
Authors including human rights lawyer Father Frank Brennan, international refugee law expert Professor Jane McAdam and former Defence Force chief Chris Barrie will speak at the 11am launch.
Leading figures in the law, military, human rights bodies, churches and politics, as well as refugees, have written chapters, all seeking new approaches to the discourse in Australia.
The book's publisher and independent research company Australia21 will follow up with a meeting to examine a new bipartisan approach to the issue.
Dr Kilcullen says a durable arrangement for the happy long-term resettlement of refugees will have perceived mutual benefit to newcomers and the receiving community.
''Country town A'', which has six vacant houses that are falling into disrepair, is one of her examples. The town needs a motor mechanic and seven children to make the local school viable. ''Town A's representatives ask for 30 refugees, including 10 children, a motor mechanic and some skilled carpenters, and enough cash for materials for repairs to the houses and the school,'' Dr Kilcullen says.
Other scenarios are a region needing 20 labourers to clear land of unviable fruit trees to make way for aquaponic food production and a trial oilseed crop.
Another group of refugees would do seasonal work, improve their language and get their qualifications recognised in Australia, while repairing and upgrading a disused orphanage.
''From the beginning, the participating community is autonomous in its decision-making. The newcomers understand and accept the roles they are being asked to fill,'' says the author.
''Care must be taken in the design of each specific project to avoid the perception that unfair advantage is being given to newcomers over existing community members,'' Dr Kilcullen said.
''In fact, a system of supported tender-and-matching could become the basis for regional development Australia-wide, for old and new inhabitants alike.''
Similar ideas are described by Ann-Mari Jordens in her 2012 book, Hope: Refugees and Their Supporters In Australia Since 1947.
