Several experts have warned of low participation in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) among people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
A report from ABC News revealed that only 9.5% of NDIS participants identify as CALD – a figure ABC says is less than half the 20% participation rate projected by the National Disability Support Agency (NDIA), the scheme’s administrator.
Dilky Wijeyekoon, senior program manager at the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC), told ABC that the scheme’s complexity could be the reason for the lack of participation.
"There are definitely people who should have an NDIS plan, who don't," said Wijeyekoon. "That's because many of them don't know what the NDIS is or how to access it."
Kendall Field, chief executive officer of non-profit Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service of South Australia (DACSSA), told ABC that NDIS is “far too complex, legalistic, and inflexible” for people from CALD backgrounds.
"People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds need help not only to access the system but to navigate it," Field told ABC. “Interpreters should be engaged at every stage so people interacting with the system are well informed and can make an informed decision."
Meanwhile, NDIS Minister Linda Reynolds said that the agency “has a deep commitment to work alongside CALD people in a respectful and inclusive way, which is reaffirmed in its cultural and linguistic diversity strategy,” adding that a refreshed strategy, developed with CALD stakeholders including participants, families, carers, and the sector will be launched in 2022.
