Overview

Victoria's Multiculturalism

The state of Victoria is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world. Its success depends on promoting enterprise, encouraging innovation and strengthening community. It also relies on encouraging the skills and talents of people from diverse cultural backgrounds to reach their full potential.

The Need

A core aspect of democratic society is the ability of all citizens to participate and access services. In order to do this, information needs to be distributed and communicated in a manner that encourages and enhances people’s ability to participate.

The inability to speak English proficiently is often cited as the biggest barrier facing clients of Non English Speaking Background (NESB) who are trying to access services. As a result, people of NESB often miss out on vital support and advice available unless there are interpreters available to act as a vital bridge.
Also in order to provide services that are able to communicate and respond to issues as they arise in emerging communities, it is essential for materials to be accessible in the first language.
There is a significant range of community information that requires translation. However due to the current costs of translation services, combined with the lack of accredited interpreters in the languages of emerging communities, make translation of this level of information unsustainable.

The Drive

Peter Mc Nicol

Community action planning (CAP) strategies and processes like Neighbourhood Renewal have played a key role in state policies with the aim of increasing meaningful community participation. This focus has highlighted the importance of effectively engaging with Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.

Further, community organisations and not for profits are looking to be more inclusive around community members from non English speaking backgrounds in recognition that it is these groups that require the greatest service support.

All this has meant that there is a greater need for a quality community interpreting and translation service, such as Language Factory, underpinned as it is by a deep understanding of community development and its associated sectors.

The Solution

Language Factory's ability to meet the needs of Government and community agencies, all whilst providing a cost-effective and reliable community language service, will ensure that community engagement will increase and flourish through accessible information.