IDEAS are providing services as part of the new National Community Connector Program (NCCP), developed as a response to the under-representation of many diverse population groups receiving and properly utilising NDIS funding, due to a combination of cultural, social, economic and discriminatory barriers.
What is the National Community Connector Program?
The NCCP aims to supports people with disability from 4 specific population groups to navigate the NDIS.
These include:
- Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) peoples
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) 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.
What do CALD Community Connectors 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 in gathering 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 capacity to engage with people from CALD communities more effectively.
- When people are not eligible for NDIS, we can work with their PITC to link them to mainstream supports.
You can contact our CALD Community Connectors by calling our toll free Info Line on 1800 029 904 and asking to speak to them, or by using the contact details provided below.
