This document, “Engaging Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities: A Guide for the Western Australian Public Sector,” is a guide published in July 2014 for government agencies in Western Australia. It focuses on strategies for engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, recognizing the diverse population of Western Australia with people from over 200 countries speaking 270 languages and representing over 100 religious faiths. The guide emphasizes the benefits of community engagement for both the public sector and CaLD communities, including improved public policies and services, successful settlement outcomes, and increased social capital.

Organizations can use this document to engage multicultural communities by:

• Understanding the Principles of Community Engagement: The guide outlines the core principles of community engagement, highlighting the importance of involving citizens in decision-making processes, understanding community needs, building relationships, and collaborating effectively. This provides a foundation for approaching engagement with CaLD communities in a respectful and inclusive manner.
• Implementing Good Practices: The document provides specific good practices for engaging CaLD communities, including providing cultural competency training, implementing the WA Language Services Policy, promoting services through multilingual channels, and collecting CaLD client data. These practices are designed to ensure government services are accessible and relevant to diverse cultural groups.
• Utilizing Various Engagement Methods: The guide outlines different methods of community engagement, such as informing, consulting, involving, and empowering communities. Organizations can choose the most appropriate methods based on the specific goals of their engagement efforts and the needs of the CaLD communities they are working with.
• Creating Partnerships: The guide emphasizes the importance of building partnerships with non-government organizations (NGOs) and CaLD community groups. These partnerships can leverage the expertise and grassroots connections of organizations already serving CaLD communities, leading to more effective and culturally sensitive engagement.
• Accessing Resources: The document provides a list of resources available through the Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI), including information on cultural diversity, community profiles, and settlement services. These resources can assist organizations in understanding the specific needs and characteristics of different CaLD communities in Western Australia.