Online Training

Rethinking Engagement with CALD Communities

Engage, Empower, & Connect: Effective Communication for a Multicultural Australia

08 May 2025

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM AEST

Next intake: 08 May 2025 | 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM AEST

Overview

Australia’s multicultural landscape is rapidly evolving. As of the latest Census, over 7.5 million Australians (29.1% of the population) were born overseas—up from 26.3% in 2016. By 2041, migrants from Asia are projected to outnumber those from Europe, fundamentally reshaping community needs and expectations.

For government agencies, this means that traditional engagement models no longer work. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities must be at the heart of stakeholder strategies to ensure equitable policy outcomes, trust-building, and inclusive service delivery.

Despite progress, barriers remain—language, accessibility, misinformation, and systemic exclusion. This training equips government professionals with the tools to break down these barriers, rethink engagement strategies, and drive meaningful change.

Learning Outcomes

Gain deeper insights into CALD communities and their unique needs
Develop culturally responsive messaging that resonates and builds trust
Leverage alternative communication channels to connect with hard-to-reach groups
Avoid common pitfalls in engagement, such as assumptions and generalisations
Improve service delivery by making informed, data-driven engagement decisions

Online Training

Rethinking Engagement with CALD Communities


Session details

  • Develop Inclusive Engagement Strategies – Gain practical tools to effectively connect with CALD communities, ensuring equitable representation in policy and service delivery.
  • Craft Culturally-Responsive Messaging – Learn how to tailor communication that resonates, builds trust, and avoids common pitfalls in multicultural engagement.
  • Leverage Alternative Channels for Outreach – Explore innovative ways to reach diverse and hard-to-reach communities through community networks, digital platforms, and grassroots initiatives.
View course modules

Level: Fundamentals

No previous experience necessary

Key Sessions

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

To engage effectively with CALD communities, government professionals must first understand their diversity, challenges, and unique needs. This session provides a deep dive into:

  • The evolution of Australia’s cultural landscape and the latest demographic trends.
  • Defining CALD in a government context—who it includes and how the term has evolved.
  • Key engagement challenges, including language barriers, trust issues, cultural sensitivities, and digital accessibility.
  • The risks of overgeneralisation and the importance of data-driven engagement approaches.

🔹 Discussion: What challenges have you faced when engaging with CALD communities?

10:40 AM – 12:30 PM

Once we understand the challenges, we must develop strategies to bridge the gap. This module explores:

  • Assessing your current approach—identifying weaknesses and areas for improvement.
  • Building relationships with CALD communities—leveraging trusted community leaders, local networks, and grassroots organisations.
  • Strategies for inclusive consultation and co-design, ensuring communities are active participants in decision-making.
  • Best practices from successful government initiatives that improved CALD engagement.

🔹 Breakout Activity: Work in teams to evaluate an existing government engagement initiative and identify key improvements.

1:30 PM – 2:50 PM

Effective engagement requires choosing the right channels and crafting messages that resonate. This session covers:

  • Beyond traditional media—leveraging ethnic radio, social media, WhatsApp groups, multicultural newspapers, and in-language content.
  • The role of community partnerships—how working with faith groups, advocacy organisations, and ethnic associations can amplify impact.
  • Culturally responsive messaging—how to frame government communications to be relevant, accessible, and action-driven.
  • Crisis communication—how to quickly and effectively engage CALD communities in times of emergency or policy change.

🔹 Interactive Exercise: Rewrite a government message to better engage a CALD audience and choose the most effective distribution channel.

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Some CALD communities remain disengaged or difficult to reach, particularly in regional, remote, and newly settled migrant populations. This module focuses on:

  • Understanding the barriers preventing these communities from engaging with government services.
  • Innovative engagement strategies tailored to migrants, refugees, and regional/remote populations.
  • How to build long-term trust by demonstrating consistency, transparency, and respect.
  • Lessons from successful outreach programs—what works, and what doesn’t.

🔹 Breakout Activity: Develop a targeted engagement plan for a hard-to-reach CALD community and present strategies for peer feedback.

4:10 PM – 4:30 PM

Participants will present their key learnings and engagement strategies to the group for feedback. The session concludes with best practice recommendations and next steps for applying these skills in real-world government settings.

Meet Your Facilitator

Benazir Suraiya

Benazir is a leading expert in communication and engagement, with 13+ years of experience across government, education, and non-profit sectors. She has successfully led engagement strategies for the NSW and Victorian Governments, working with CALD and First Nations communities to drive inclusive policies.

She is a contributor to the Victorian Government’s Guidebook: How to Engage with CALD Communities, a member of IAP2 Australasia, and a former PRIA Victorian Division Chair.

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Extra Early Bird

Ends 7 Mar

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per person + tax $400 saving

 

Early Bird

Ends 4 Apr

$A 995

per person + tax $200 saving

 

Regular

Ends 7 May

$A 1195

per person + tax

Additional discounts are available for group registrations of 10 or more. For group or payment enquiries or custom training solutions, please contact [email protected]

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