Diversity in the Community

Presented by: Angela Cook

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Let’s set the context for our discussion

Can we stick to:• What diversity in the community means

for CFA in relation to engaging with the community and how we can better meet their needs?

• Cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD)

Anything else?

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Do you know the most common Language Other Than English (LOTE)?

Victoria’s Diverse Communities

• Activity

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2011 Census

• The total Victorian population was 5,354,039 persons, increasing by 8.5% (or 421,617) from the 2006 Census

• Of the total Victorian population in 2011:– 26.2% (1,405,337) were born overseas in more than 200

countries (23.8% in 2006);– 46.8% (2,503,127) were either born overseas or have at

least one parent born overseas (43.6% in 2006);– 74.6% (1,048,068) of those born overseas were from non-

main English-speaking countries (72.8% in 2006);– 23.1% (1,235,435) spoke 260 languages other than

English at home (20.4% in 2006); and – 67.7% (3,623,792) followed 135 faiths (68.4% in 2006)

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Engaging CALD communities

Where to start?• Understand your

community profile – who is in your community

• Demographics?• Cultural diversity?

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Then where to?

Engaging CALD Communities

• Build relationships with CALD communities – How?

• Understand your Brigade’s level of cultural awareness

Booklet has been developed to help – Engaging Multicultural Communities

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What do you need to consider when delivering community education or engaging with CALD groups?

Engaging CALD Communities

• Level of English proficiency• Resources available• Social or cultural factors • What they really need to know – not

everything you know – keep it simple• Your own assumptions and opinions• What else?

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What have you been doing?

CFA is already active in this space

• What has worked well?

• What have you learnt?

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Some final practical tips

Engaging CALD Communities

• Call your local migrant resource centre or your local AMES – a great resource

• Invite your local migrant groups to the brigade for a tour

• Interested in continuing the conversation about diversity – talk to Deb and Josh as we want to set up a group to share ideas etc.