Culturally appropriate support encouraged under NDIS transition

The Palaszczuk Government today called for disability service providers to build their skills and knowledge to deliver culturally-appropriate supports for Queenslanders with disability.                                                                                 

Speaking this morning (Monday, February 5^th) at a breakfast meeting for chief executives from the disability and community services sector, Minister for Disability Services and Seniors Coralee O'Rourke said people with disability and their carers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds often experience a range of barriers when they try to access and participate in mainstream support programs.

“As providers of disability supports and services, you all have a great opportunity in the coming months to increase your capacity to design and deliver supports for NDIS participants from a CALD background, as your region transitions,” Mrs O'Rourke said.

“We're working with Multicultural Development Australia (MDA) and DiverseWerks, to deliver a Provider Readiness (CALD) Project aimed at breaking down barriers.

“We've also allocated funding to MDA and DiverseWerks to produce a range of online resources and deliver training sessions targeting especially the providers of services to people with disability from CALD backgrounds.”

The Palaszczuk Government has allocated almost $15 million to NDIS sector readiness activities over two years to June 2018, including $5.825 million from the Australian Government.

“We're approaching implementation of the NDIS as an opportunity to strengthen our sector in the delivery of services and programs to people with CALD backgrounds,” said MDA Chief Executive Officer Kerrin Benson.

“The individuals most at risk of being lost or forgotten in this transition are those who do not speak English at home or as their first language.

“Some people with disability in this situation may not even be aware that support programs and assistance exist for them, so the Provider Readiness project is giving us a means of reaching out and connecting with them.

"We've partnered with DiverseWerks to deliver the project in six QLD regions - through community briefings, training programs; an online resource kit and one-on-one consultancy services (one per region)  to providers across Queensland to increase their understanding and responsiveness to people with disability from a CALD background.”

Minister O’Rourke said from 1 July this year, the NDIS will crank up in Queensland with the more densely populated parts of the state, including Brisbane, beginning their transition.

“Under the NDIS, the number of Queenslanders receiving disability supports is expected to grow to more than 90,000 by July 2019 when the transition finishes,” Mrs O'Rourke said.

“The NDIS is expected to create between 15,900 and 19,400 jobs for service providers to people with disability during that same period.

“I encourage providers to get involved, attend one of the sessions organised by MDA and DiverseWerks, make use of our online toolkit and ensure that no one in need of care is discriminated against as we transition to the NDIS.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389