NDIS 101: Multicultural Services

Independence Australia is a registered NDIS service provider and provider of Inform Online and provides a range of options for beginning your NDIS journey, accessing supports such as NDIS consumables, viewing NDIS guides, resources and tools such as the popular NDIS planning booklet.

Navigating the NDIS can be daunting, especially if the NDIS marks the first time you or your loved one are accessing supports and services. The Inform Online NDIS 101 series aims to take some of the confusion out of understanding, accessing and using the NDIS by providing straightforward information and resources.

Around a quarter of Australians were born overseas with a significant number born in non-English speaking countries. The challenges sometimes faced in accessing supports and services are often more difficult for those Australians with a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.

For this reason, the NDIA have developed a Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Strategy that they hope will help to improve participation in the NDIS for people from CALD backgrounds. You can view the strategy on the NDIS website here.

While the challenges faced by people with disabilities from a CALD background can be daunting, there is help available. The National Translation and Interpreter Service provides assistance to people with disabilities and their supports. In addition, there are state-based groups across the country that are committed to helping people with disabilities from a CALD background to access the NDIS and other services available to them. A list of some of these groups, along with their contact details, can be found below.

In addition, the NDIS also provides a guide to starting an NDIS plan for people who don’t speak English which can be found here.

Other supports for people with disabilities from CALD backgrounds

The following organisations can provide support and resources to people with disabilities from CALD backgrounds:

The National Ethnic Disability Alliance

Website: https://www.neda.org.au/

Phone: (02) 6262 6867 or 0407 878 933

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia

Website: https://fecca.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (02) 6282 5755

Victoria – Action on Disability with Ethnic Communities Inc.

Website: https://www.adec.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (03) 9480 7000

Toll Free Number: 1800 626 078

New South Wales – Ethnic Community Services Co-operative

Website: https://ecsc.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (02) 9569 1288

New South Wales – The Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of New South Wales

Website: https://mdaa.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Toll Free Number: 1800 629 072

Queensland – Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors

Website: https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/disability/information-support-services-people-disability

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)

Northern Territory – Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory

Website: https://www.mcnt.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (08) 8945 9122

Western Australia – The Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre

Website: https://www.edac.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (08) 9388 7455

Toll Free Number: 1800 659 921

South Australia – The Multicultural Communities Council of SA

Website: https://mccsa.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (00) 8345 5266

Tasmania – The Multicultural Council of Tasmania

Website: https://mcot.org.au/

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (03) 6170 9196

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