Multicultural Disability Advocacy Australia

07/10/2026

MDAA was proud to join our community partners for the official launch of the Multicultural Service Desk website!

As Chair of the Multicultural Service Desk, we're incredibly excited to see this important service continue to grow - making it easier for people from multicultural communities to find the right support, information and services when they need them.

💻 The new website brings together information and resources from the organisations available at the Service Desk each day, with information accessible in multiple languages.

Visit multiculturalservicedesk.au to explore the new website and learn more about the services available.

📍 The Multicultural Service Desk is open Monday to Friday, 12pm-3pm, at Auburn Town Hall, next to Auburn Police Station.

A fantastic milestone for a service built on collaboration, accessibility and inclusion - and an important step towards ensuring everyone in our community knows where to turn for help.

Image description: A group of people gathered at the Multicultural Service Desk website launch, with a celebratory cake and screens displaying the new website.

NSW Police Force Auburn Police Area Command

16/09/2026

What’s school like for students with disability in Australia? 🎒

You’ve got opinions and our friends at CYDA want to hear them in their 2026 National Education survey!

They’re asking current and former students, and parents or caregivers:

✅ What’s working?
❌ What isn’t?
💫 What needs to change?

Maybe you or your child experienced bullying or exclusion because of disability, or maybe you go to a school that gets inclusion right.

Have your say today!
➡️ Link for young people: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPTQLQR
➡️ Link for parents or caregivers: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WN29S6J

CYDA runs these surveys every two years so they can tell schools and governments exactly how things are right now, and what needs to happen to make them better.

Surveys close 15 October 2026 🗓️

Image description: A photo of a young woman with dark skin, wearing a grey polo shirt and a light blue headscarf over her black hair, and using a wheelchair. Text to the left reads: “National Education Survey. What’s school like for students with disability in 2026? Have your say as a child or young person with disability, parent or caregiver. Survey closes Thursday, 15 October.” The CYDA logo is in the top left of the image.

14/09/2026

📢 Free EmergencyRedi™ Workshop - Parramatta

The Australian Red Cross and NRMA Insurance are hosting a free EmergencyRedi™ Workshop to help community members better prepare for emergencies and extreme weather events.

Participants will learn about:
• Get in the Know - understanding local risks, how emergencies may affect daily life, and where to find support
• Get Connected – strengthening community connections and support networks
• Get Organised – creating an emergency plan and preparing important information
• Get Packing – learning what essential items to include in an emergency kit

📅 Friday, 18 September 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
📍 Parramatta (location to be announced)
💲 Free event
🎟 Places are limited to 25 participants and only a few tickets remain.

The workshop will also include information about local risks and practical steps people can take to prepare for and reduce the impacts of emergencies.

For more information and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/parramatta-australian-red-cross-emergencyreditm-workshop-tickets-1990833745324

Extreme weather affects all of Australia. In this workshop you’ll learn about your local risks and how to better prepare for emergencies.

28/08/2026

💜🌈 Wear It Purple Day – Colours of Courage 🌈💜

We’re celebrating Wear It Purple Day 2026 with pride-coloured nails! 💅🌈

Standing together for a world where everyone is seen, safe, heard, valued and included.

25/08/2026

Research Participants Wanted | Master's Thesis Study

*Are you a parent or caregiver from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background? Would you be willing to share your child's experiences of school belonging and support?

Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) are looking for parents or caregivers to participate in a Master's thesis research study exploring children's sense of school belonging. This study aims to understand how parents and caregivers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds perceive their children's experiences of being accepted, supported, respected, and included in Australian primary schools.

To participate, you must:
• Have a child with an intellectual disability currently enrolled in primary school in Australia
• V Parents or caregivers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background
• Able to participate in an interview in either English or Mandarin
• Aged 18 years or older

What's involved?

A one-off online or telephone interview of approximately 45-60 minutes. Optional Photovoice, is also available.

Participants will receive an AUD $50 Coles eGift Card in recognition of their time and
contribution.

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact
Dr Joanne Danker: [email protected]
+61 2 9065 1928
Ruoyun Jiao (Student): [email protected]

HREC Approval Number: iRECS11552
Participant group: CALD parents/caregivers

21/08/2026

We were honoured to meet with the Hon. Aileen MacDonald MLC , Member of the NSW Legislative Council, Opposition Leader’s Representative for the Not-for-Profit Sector, and Chair of the Select Committee on Youth Justice, together with Viv from her office who visited MDAA today.

It was a valuable opportunity to discuss MDAA’s 2027 NSW State Election Priorities, with a particular focus on the importance of cultural safety for people with disability from multicultural backgrounds.

MDAA is calling for many key actions including:
🔹 Strengthening and expanding independent advocacy
🔹 Investing in early intervention and prevention
🔹 Embedding culturally safe and intersectional service delivery across NSW

We thank the Hon. Aileen MacDonald MLC for her time and genuine care in engaging with us on these important issues. We look forward to continuing to work together.

17/08/2026

🌿 Free Community Tai Chi

We're pleased to share this free community wellbeing event from Fairfield City Council as part of Multicultural Health Week 2026.

Enjoy gentle movement, connect with others, and support your health and wellbeing at this free outdoor Tai Chi session in Canley Vale. The event celebrates the theme of improving mental health through physical activity and offers a welcoming opportunity to nurture both body and mind while connecting with the local community.

Participants can enjoy:
• A free outdoor Tai Chi session.
• Gentle movement that supports mental health and overall wellbeing.
• An opportunity to connect with others in the community.
• A welcoming environment suitable for all fitness levels.
• A healthy and enjoyable way to stay active.

📅 Date: Saturday, 29 August 2026
⏰ Arrival Time: 7:40am
🧘 Session Time: 8:00am to 9:00am
📍 Location: Adams Park, Canley Vale, NSW

🔗 Register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/free-community-tai-chi-tickets-1997423601762

📞 For more information: 9725 0222
📧 Email: [email protected]

Please share with anyone in your networks who may be interested.

Fairfield City Council

Enjoy gentle movement, connect with others, and support your health and wellbeing.

14/08/2026

✍️ Opportunity for Writers with Disability and D/deaf Writers

We're pleased to share this opportunity from Varuna, the National Writers' House.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Writer's Space Residential Fellowships for writers with disability and/or who are D/deaf, at any stage of their writing career and living anywhere in Australia.

Successful applicants will receive:
• A two-week residency at Varuna between January and July 2027.
• A private writing studio and dedicated time to focus on their writing project.
• All meals provided during the residency.
• Reimbursement of travel expenses between their home and Varuna.
• Two one-on-one mentoring sessions with an experienced Varuna writing consultant.

Eight fellowships are available, including two reserved places for First Nations writers.

📅 Applications close: Midnight AEST, 8 September 2026
🔗 For more information and to apply: https://www.varuna.com.au/for-writers/twsfellowships-residential

Please share with anyone in your networks who may be interested.

Applications close 8 September 2026 Eight two-week residential fellowships will be offered to writers with disability and/or who are D/deaf.

13/08/2026