Warnings that cuts to community-based groups will undermine trust

Disability advocates warn that NDIS reforms could dismantle vital peer support networks—particularly for CALD communities—just when they are needed most.

Disability advocates nationwide have called on the Federal Government and the National Disability Insurance Agency to immediately halt and review pricing decisions that threaten essential supports and participant choice.

As the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continues implementing widespread changes across Australia particular concerns have been raised about the impact on culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

Dr Qian Fang, a University of South Australia expert in Inclusive Disability Support, emphasises that people with disabilities from CALD backgrounds should be a priority cohort in the government's NDIS reforms.

"When it was launched, it had a goal to have participants from CALD backgrounds," Dr Fang reflects. "Governments need to do more to make the NDIS and the disability system more accessible for people from CALD backgrounds."

Peer support serves as a vital lifeline for participants, helping them gain valuable knowledge to better navigate and utilise disability services. For CALD communities, these services are particularly crucial as cultural and language barriers often impede access to support.

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Peer groups function as essential channels for sharing information and overcoming systemic barriers that prevent full participation in the disability support system.

When speaking with young people with disabilities from second-generation migrant backgrounds, Dr Fang found that "learning something new" focused more on developing social skills and confidence to build friendships with peers their age.

The second common expectation centres on quality emotional support. While this often involves sharing personal and sometimes emotionally challenging experiences related to disability, Dr Fang notes that "the desire for emotional support connection is shared by both people with disability and those without."

The stakes are particularly high for CALD communities already facing systemic exclusion. "Many CALD people with disability have been excluded from the NDIS due to systemic barriers," Dr Fang explains. "Peer support groups run by and for CALD people with disability and their families play a crucial role in helping them access and navigate the NDIS."

Dr Fang warns that potential funding cuts to peer support under the NDIS "risk worsening the situation, further limiting CALD people's access to disability support." Support coordination has emerged as a key area affected by NDIS reforms, with barriers to peer support highlighting how people with disabilities could be left significantly worse off.

Effective implementation requires more than simply allocating bilingual and bicultural staff, according to Dr Fang. "Support groups help build capacity," she notes. "We should allow members to build a bond with other members and capacity gradually and naturally over time."

Poor implementation can have negative consequences, including forcing participants to share their experiences or employing group facilitators who lack the necessary knowledge and empathy.

"People with disabilities don't like to be forced or focus too much on negative experiences," Dr Fang cautions, emphasising that "emotional support and building resilience take time."The grassroots nature of many CALD peer support groups adds to their effectiveness. These groups are typically initiated and led by people with disabilities or their family members, creating authentic community connections that inspire others to take on leadership roles.

This organic development is crucial, as trust-building between CALD people and disability service providers requires significant time and cultural understanding. Dr Fang's research has identified two key expectations CALD people have for effective peer support: learning opportunities and emotional support.

However, these needs manifest differently across age groups and circumstances. For family members and middle-aged new migrants with disabilities, ‘learning something new’ primarily involves gaining practical information to better navigate the complex NDIS system.