移民的遷移決策過程，可以反映他們的居住偏好與適應情形。本研究主要了解台灣移民在澳洲選擇初次居住地以及再遷移時所考量的因素，決策的過程與機制，並探討他們在澳洲遷移的空間性與地方性的特色。研究方法採用質性分析，主要從澳洲雪梨、布里斯本和墨爾本三大都市中，選擇79 位不同移民時間、居住地區、性別及職業的台灣移民，進行深入訪談。 研究結果發現，他們會因為大都市較有商機的理由選擇雪梨，並以雪梨灣北岸為主要居住地區；會因為天氣好的因素而選擇布里斯 本，並集中在南區的Sunnybank 周遭地區；會因為子女教育而選墨爾本，主要分布在市中心向東電車沿線等的好學區地區。其居住地選擇的決策機制在於：需求、能力和適應歷程三者要素間的相互作用。台灣移民會因為自己的需求與能力的不同而選擇自己的居住區域，而且會因在澳洲居住時間的長短與適應的歷程而改變。 由於台灣移民初次選擇居住地仍然以親友為考量，因此會集中在各城市的某些郊區而形成聚集的現象。然而，他們在時空收斂下有著跳躍式遷移的特性，同時在不同的空間層次上有著不同的考量因素。其遷移動機和傳統國際移民的動機有所差別，空間選擇的自由度亦較高。雖然台灣移民分布在廣大的都市中，但卻有著如村里般緊密且地方性的社會網絡。他們盡心盡力的在經營自己的生活，同時也努力的為台灣與澳洲的社會貢獻自己的心力。

The decision-making process of residential mobility of migrants reflects housing preferences and adaptation. This research examines the initial location and re-location factors of recent Taiwanese immigrants in Australia, their decision-making process and mechanism affecting their moves. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews of seventy- nine immigrants were carried out in the three major cities of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The results from this study show that Sydney was selected because of more opportunities for business, Brisbane for the good weather, and Melbourne for the education of their children. The concentration in each city is based on the three elements of ‘needs’, ‘capital’ and ‘time’ and the interaction of these elements leads to diversification and individual differences in the factors of residential choice. Moreover, the concentration in the suburbs is largely decided by the need to locate in close proximity to their family and friends who form earlier Taiwanese communities. Over time, their residential pattern results from complex decision processes across time and space, differing from international migrants of the past. In spite of being distributed widely in large cities, they are closely related through their social network. They work hard to manage their new lives, while doing their best in contributing to Australian society and their Taiwanese homeland at the same time.