This Sunday, Campbelltown arts centre will host a forum aimed at improving access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme by Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups in the community.
NDIS provides individualised funding support for people with disability, their families and carers around the country.
It is no secret that the scheme has been plagued by significant challenges since its inception and has therefore been in a constant state of flux.
While understandably frustrating for service providers and people with disability alike, change can lead to improvement and hopefully a better system for all.
In the spirit of improvement, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) have acknowledged that there are some diverse community groups who are not currently experiencing equitable access to the NDIS, and are therefore significantly under-represented in the scheme’s demographics.
One of the key groups who the NDIA have significant issues engaging with due to social, cultural, economic and discriminatory barriers is the multicultural community.
The NDIA have responded by funding a new program called the National Community Connector Program (NCCP) which will bridge the gaps between the NDIS and these recognised community groups.
IDEAS, a national independent information provider for people with disability and their families and carers, won the contract to provide the CALD Community Connector program in Campbelltown.
IDEAS and the Multicultural Society of Campbelltown Incorporated are joining forces for the NDIS forum on Sunday, December 13.
Around 30 participants from different ethnic groups have confirmed their attendance and are looking forward to sharing their experiences and learning about the NDIS and what support is available for them.
“Engaging proactively within the community and working collaboratively with multicultural groups in projects like this will bring awareness of the NDIS and assistance with access to more people from a multicultural background who need it,’’ says Angela van den Berg, the community engagement manager at IDEAS and manager of the IDEAS CALD Community Connector team.
Special guest Marjorie Letta from Settlement Services International, the local area coordination service in Campbelltown, will provide information on the NDIS and discuss how it works.
Himadri Deka, the newly appointed Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Community Connector for the Campbelltown local government area will cover support and services available for CALD communities under the National Community Connector Program (NCCP).
