Griffith could stand to lose an essential voice to the multicultural community if the NSW government refuses to commit to ongoing, longer term funding for the disability advocacy sector.
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Rebecca Mwankenja, from Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association has been working to support the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community from her Yambil street office since January but says the future is uncertain for her job and her clients.
"For the CALD community it will be really hard if we cannot secure further funding," Mrs Mwankenja, MDAA's capacity building officer in Griffith said.
MDAA helps people from CALD backgrounds to navigate their way through complex Australian bureaucracy which they cannot access alone due to language or disability barriers. Many of their clients have come to Australia with temporary visas and therefore are ineligible for public support, which makes MDAA's work so vital in helping them access services to keep them afloat.
Executive Director of MDAA, Susan Laguna said that COVID-19 this year has placed the CALD community in Griffith even more at risk of falling into extreme hardship.
"The COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased isolation and financial stress in the wider community, is particularly devastating for the vulnerable members of our community, such as people with disability from CALD communities," Mrs Laguna said.
Financial strains are also a factor due to the fact that many temporary visa holders have lost their jobs during the pandemic explained Mrs Laguna.
Disability advocacy services are solely funded by the NSW government and are able to ensure support and representation for their clients only through the government's continued backing.
The NSW government have been slow to reassure the sector of continued funding. Even after the government's Aging and Disability Commission's review into the disability advocacy sector in 2019 recommended continued funding essential.
A recent development in the last 24 hours has seen the government extend funding past the original December 2020 cut off, but only until June 2021.
This creates particular uncertainty for the future of Mrs Mwankenja's office in Griffith and her clients.
In a statement communicated to the Disability Advocacy sector late Thursday afternoon, NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Gareth Ward stated:
"Funding has been extended through to June 2021 to enable consideration of Commissioner Fitzgerald's report through the upcoming Budget."
Mr Ward reiterated the government's commitment to disability advocacy by reinforcing there have been no funding cuts to the sector.
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Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
Kat is a former English teacher to international students and has taught all over the world. She is beginning a new career as a journalist with the Area News. Got something you want to chat about? She's all ears.
