MEDIA RELEASE
Adelaide 8th December, 2020

Historic Partnership Delivers Information on Disability Inclusion in CALD Communities

Chairperson of the Multicultural Communities Council of SA, Miriam Cocking is proud to announce a partner agreement between all State and Territory Ethnic and Multicultural Communities’ Councils across Australia that will deliver information to CALD communities about resources available to support disability inclusion.

“We look forward to all the opportunities and possibilities that will come out of The Speak My Language (SML) program which we believe will  help CALD and Indigenous communities acquire valuable information about living well with a disability. This national initiative will help people with disabilities from diverse communities and their supporters share real stories about how to access mainstream and community based living well with a disability resources”, said Ms Miriam Cocking.

Along with additional interviews with guest speakers, SML will provide practical tips on how to find and access inclusive places, people and events, regardless of whether a person has an NDIS individualised package.  Information will be provided in up to 25 community languages and delivered via podcast, broadcast and online. MCCSA’s CEO, Helena Kyriazopoulos said “We can’t wait to start helping our multicultural communities to access the benefits of the  Speak My Language (SML) program”.

 “Every Commonwealth and State/Territory agency and service system is required by law to work towards greater inclusion of people with disabilities”, explained the SML National Program Manager Jenny Bray.  “As the peak bodies for Multiculturalism in each State and Territory, ECCs/MCCs are well connected to providers of health, education, transport, housing, child care, employment and local government services, and obviously are also exceptionally well connected to CALD communities across their respective States and Territories. ECCs/MCCs are perfectly placed to connect local CALD communities and these everyday supports, and to help sustain those connections”.

For general information go to the SML website or email [email protected]. If you would like to get involved in SML to tell your story or to be a guest speaker, contact Hanaa Grave, Speak My Language State Coordinator, Ph 8213 4611 or Email [email protected]
For information about SML in your State or Territory, contact one of the National SML Partners:

  • Ethnic Communities Council of NSW – ECCNSW
  • Ethnic Communities Council VIC – ECCV
  • Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland – ECCQ
  • Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia – ECCWA
  • Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia – MCCSA
  • Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory – MCNT
  • Multicultural Council of Tasmania – MCOT

This project is funded by the Department of Social Services under the NDIS Information Linkages and Capacity Building Framework.