A new Community Fellowship research report, Regional Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth Voices in Organisation Engagement, authored by Hayley, explores how culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) young people in regional Victoria experience community and public services.
The research identifies practical ways organisations can strengthen engagement, accessibility and cultural safety, while ensuring services better reflect the experiences and needs of young people from diverse backgrounds.
Barriers to accessing services
Participants identified a range of challenges, including:
- Language barriers, particularly for newly arrived young people navigating unfamiliar systems and services.
- Limited awareness of available support, with some young people unsure where to find help.
- Mental health stigma and delays, including cultural stigma, long wait times and perceptions that accessing support can be difficult.
- Transport barriers, particularly for young people without a driver's licence or access to a car.
- Social isolation, including difficulties building friendships and connections in new communities.
- Employment barriers, including limited local experience and challenges securing first jobs.
Young people also shared what makes services more accessible and welcoming. These included clear and respectful communication, culturally diverse staff, translation services, flexible outreach and opportunities to connect with services in community settings rather than traditional office environments.
Food and community events were also identified as important ways to create welcoming spaces and encourage participation. Young people highlighted the potential role of peer leaders and informal support networks in connecting others with services.
Recommendations for organisations
The report provides practical recommendations, including:
- Improve access to translation, including clearly promoting available language support and offering face-to-face and phone options.
- Increase visibility of services through websites, Google, social media, multilingual resources and multicultural networks.
- Meet young people where they are by attending community and multicultural events and building relationships outside traditional service settings.
- Strengthen cultural and trauma-informed practice through regular training for staff, including training relevant to refugee and asylum-seeking communities.
- Engage families and community leaders to build trust and clarify the role and purpose of services.
- Stay connected during waitlists through regular communication and check-ins while young people are waiting for support.
- Building more inclusive regional services
By elevating the voices and experiences of CALD young people, the research provides valuable insights for organisations seeking to create more inclusive, accessible and culturally safe services across regional Victoria.
The Activating Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth Voices in Regional Service Engagement Framework provides a foundation for organisations to turn these insights into practical action.