Staff representing Lutheran Care recently participated in the Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia’s Horizons Workshop, which focused on addressing the current challenges facing culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Alice Springs.
Held on September 21 at the Alice Springs Desert Park, the workshop included consultation across the business, not-for-profit and government sectors, as attendees worked together to understand what supports could help CALD communities overcome challenges in the region.
Representing Lutheran Care on the day was Lutheran Care’s Executive Manager Community Services Susan Richards and Head of Strategic Relations & Quality Dr Victoria Skinner.
Key findings from the consultation found that CALD communities in Alice Springs need more support in the following areas:
- child care;
- social connection;
- financial education;
- establishing small businesses;
- understanding local customs;
- connecting with local First Nations communities.
Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia will now use these findings to drive the direction of its services, but it is also information Lutheran Care can use in its service design moving forward.
“Lutheran Care was pleased to be involved in these discussions and to connect further with others across the region,” Ms Richards said.
“Our Alice Springs team works alongside a number of different organisations to deliver our programs across Central Australia. With almost one third of the population in Alice Springs born overseas, collaborating with the local sector and hearing about the experiences of CALD communities will help all of us work towards creating better outcomes for people in the future.”
Lutheran Care’s Chief Executive Officer Rohan Feegrade said these types of events highlight the importance of involving people who have lived experience in the design of service delivery.
“Including this experience and journey from people navigating service systems assists us further to improve the accessibility and quality of our programs and support at the local level,” Mr Feegrade said.
MCSCA is a community-based organisation providing services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Alice Springs.