IDEAS are providing services as part of the new National Community Connector Program (NCCP), developed as a response to the under-representation of a number of diverse population groups receiving and properly utilising NDIS funding, due to a combination of cultural, social, economic and discriminatory barriers.
The NCCP aims to supports people with disability from 4 specific population groups to navigate the NDIS. These include:
- Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse peoples
- People experiencing psychosocial disability
- Aging parents and carers of people with disability
IDEAS are contracted to support 5 community connectors across 4 regions of NSW.
CALD Community Connectors will assist CALD people with disability and their representatives in understanding, accessing and using support through the NDIS. They will also support the NDIA, Partners in Community (LACs and ECEI Services) and the local service sector to establish trusting relationships and more appropriate engagement.
Some examples of what the CALD Community Connectors can do:
- Improve awareness and knowledge about NDIS
- Assertive outreach to CALD communities in a culturally sensitive manner
- Provide transport and attend appointments and meetings, if require support
- Assist to gather evidence to support access request
- Organise interpreters for free translation and interpretation services
- Support during pre-planning, planning and plan review meetings.
- Those who are not eligible for the NDIS, or who are exiting the NDIS, help them to access mainstream supports.
- Work closely with PITC to build their links with hard to reach communities and to build their capability to more effectively engage with people from CALD communities.
- When people are not eligible for NDIS, we can work with their PITC to link them to mainstream supports.
Our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Community Connectors are:
Campbelltown:
Himadri DekaM:0407 616 168E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Wollongong:
Deji AdiatuEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Mob: 0417 062 455Central Coast:
Keiko ClementsEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Mob: 0429 656 100Newcastle:
Julie DuncanEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Mob: 0447 186 446 Ana ParadaEmail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Mob: 0427 583 945Download PDF Factsheet
