NDIS Support for CALD Communities in South Australia

For many people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds in South Australia, navigating the NDIS can feel especially difficult. Language barriers, unfamiliar systems, and services that don't understand your cultural context can make it hard to access the support you're entitled to. This guide explains your rights, what culturally safe support looks like, and how to find the right provider in Adelaide.

What Does CALD Mean in the NDIS Context?

CALD stands for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse. In the context of the NDIS, it refers to participants who come from backgrounds where English may not be their first language, or whose cultural practices, values, and beliefs differ from the mainstream Australian context.

In South Australia, CALD communities make up a significant and growing proportion of the population — particularly in northern and western Adelaide, where communities from Afghanistan, Sudan, Vietnam, India, the Pacific Islands, and many other countries have established strong local presences.

The NDIS recognises that CALD participants face specific barriers to accessing disability support, and has developed the NDIS CALD Strategy 2024–2028 to address these.

Your Rights as a CALD NDIS Participant

As a CALD participant, you have the same rights as any other NDIS participant — plus specific protections around cultural safety and language access:

• **You have the right to an interpreter** at any NDIS planning meeting, review, or service interaction. This is free and must be arranged by the NDIA or your provider.
• **You cannot be discriminated against** based on your cultural background, religion, language, or ethnicity.
• **You can request a culturally matched support worker** — while providers cannot always guarantee this, a good provider will make every effort to match you appropriately.
• **Your cultural and religious needs must be respected** in how support is delivered — including dietary requirements, prayer times, modesty preferences, and family involvement in decision-making.

If you feel your rights are not being respected, you can contact the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544.

What Is Culturally Safe NDIS Support?

Culturally safe support means disability care that is delivered in a way that respects and responds to your cultural identity. It's not just about speaking your language — it's about:

• Workers who understand your cultural values and practices
• Care plans that incorporate your dietary, religious, and cultural needs from day one
• Communication that's clear, respectful, and adapted to your level of English
• Family involvement in care decisions, where that's appropriate to your culture
• A zero-discrimination environment where you never feel judged for your background

Culturally unsafe support — where workers don't understand or respect your background — can cause harm and discourage CALD participants from accessing the support they need.

Interpreter Services Under the NDIS

Language should never be a barrier to accessing NDIS support. Here's what you need to know about interpreter services:

For NDIS planning meetings and reviews: The NDIA is required to provide a free, professional interpreter upon request. Never use a family member as your interpreter for official NDIS meetings — you have the right to a professional.

For ongoing support services: A good NDIS provider will arrange interpreter services for consultations, onboarding, and service reviews at no cost to you. Ask any provider you're considering whether they provide interpreters and how they arrange them.

TIS National: The Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) provides free interpreting services for NDIS participants. You can access TIS on 131 450.

Finding a CALD-Friendly NDIS Provider in Adelaide

Not all NDIS providers are equally prepared to support CALD participants. When looking for a provider in Adelaide, ask these questions:

• Do you have support workers who speak [my language]?
• Can you arrange a professional interpreter for our first meeting?
• How do you incorporate cultural needs into support plans?
• Do you have experience supporting participants from [my community]?
• What is your policy on discrimination and cultural safety?

A provider who hesitates or gives vague answers to these questions may not be the right fit. Look for providers who can answer confidently and specifically.

NDIS CALD Strategy 2024–2028

The Australian Government has recognised that CALD communities are underrepresented in the NDIS relative to their population share. The NDIS CALD Strategy 2024–2028 sets out a commitment to:

• Make the NDIS more accessible and understandable for CALD communities
• Increase the cultural competency of providers and the NDIA workforce
• Reduce barriers to access, particularly for newly arrived communities
• Improve data collection on CALD participant outcomes

As a CALD participant or family member, you can hold the NDIA and your providers accountable to this strategy.

Support for CALD Communities in Adelaide with FollowCare

FollowCare provides culturally safe NDIS support for participants from diverse backgrounds across Adelaide. We offer:

• Professional interpreter services arranged at no cost for all consultations and reviews
• Culturally matched support workers where possible
• Support plans that incorporate your cultural, dietary, and religious needs from day one
• Services across northern, southern, eastern, and western Adelaide — areas with the highest CALD populations in SA
• A strict zero-discrimination policy

We serve participants from Afghan, Sudanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Pacific Islander, Spanish-speaking, and many other communities across Adelaide.