Background
As of June 2023, 5.3% of NDIS participants in Queensland are from a CALD background which is lower than expected. A lack of knowledge about the availability of services, and how to navigate and access these essential services results in children and adults with disability missing out on critical supports, including those funded by the State government, such as health and housing services, early intervention supports and other services for people with disability.
To assist with bridging this gap, AMPARO Advocacy applied and was successful in receiving another Individual Capacity Building (ICB) grant funded by the federal Department of Social Services– this one for 3 years. Capacity building activities are being delivered in four locations across South East Queensland – Brisbane, Logan, Toowoomba and Ipswich. These cities all have significant numbers of humanitarian arrivals and are well established settlement areas. Ipswich is a new location for AMPARO Advocacy and has been identified as an area of need due to its high population of people from CALD and refugee backgrounds.
In each of the 4 locations there are Multicultural Engagement Officers (MEOs) who deliver culturally safe and strength-based information and skill development activities to people from CALD backgrounds with disabilities and family members to increase their:
- Knowledge of disability in the Australian context.
- Understanding of the rights of persons with disability and how to exercise their rights.
- Expectations for what a good life can look like for people with disability.
- Awareness of and engagement with mainstream and specialist disability services and assistance to access these services, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
- Capacity to exercise choice and control when engaging with services, including the NDIS.
- Connections with their peers.
Activities are being delivered through:
- Face to face information and mentoring sessions in people’s home
- Tailored group training /discussion sessions with those from specific ethnic communities
- Supporting people to join Peer Support Networks
- Utilising Participatory Action Research to develop culturally informed resources.
These activities will also combat stereotypes and prejudices and promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of people with disability.
For more information or to contact one of the workers, please contact the Multicultural Engagement Coordinator, ILCCoord@amparo.org.au or Ph. 0492 801 315.
