At Ethnolink, we believe in the power of community voices. The 2021 Census shows that nearly 30% of Australia’s population was born overseas, highlighting the influence of recent migration from countries like India, China, Nepal, and the Philippines. As Australia becomes more diverse, effectively engaging with multicultural communities is more critical than ever. Multicultural community consultations allow you to engage authentically with diverse audiences, helping you build trust, understand their needs, and refine your communication strategies. Conducting these consultations is one of the most effective ways to improve your communication with Australia’s multicultural communities. They help you gather crucial insights that you can integrate into your strategies. Community consultations are perfect for: Multicultural Research: Gain insights into your audience’s opinions, desires, and communication preferences. Example: Identify communication preferences and views on a topic such as Diabetes. Concept Testing: Gather valuable feedback on your product or campaign ideas before finalising them. Example: Share draft creative assets for a new diabetes awareness campaign to get feedback from diverse communities. Co-Creation: Collaborate with communities to develop products and resources that meet their needs. Example: Work together with communities to create culturally relevant educational materials on Diabetes. What are multicultural community consultations? Multicultural community consultations are structured interactions available in various formats to suit the needs of participants, including focus groups of 6-10 people, one-on-one interviews, and online surveys. They facilitate dialogue between organisations and cultural groups. Consultations often target a specific cultural group, such as migrants from China, or groups sharing a common language like Arabic. They can also focus on demographics like age, recentness of migration, region, or faith groups. Focus groups and one-on-one interviews Focus groups can be held in person or online, allowing those who cannot attend in person to contribute their insights. Sessions typically last 30 to 90 minutes, aiming to gather opinions and feedback on various topics. They may be conducted in English with a bilingual facilitator or an interpreter. Participants should be compensated for their time, recognising the value of their contributions. Online surveys Online surveys collect feedback from a broad audience. They are convenient and can be presented in multiple languages to ensure inclusivity. These surveys allow participants to contribute at their own pace and provide privacy and anonymity to foster honest feedback. While they may not offer in-depth interactions like focus groups, their wide reach and efficiency in identifying trends make them valuable. What are the benefits of undertaking community consultations? Community consultations offer many benefits, including: Building trust: Engaging openly with multicultural communities cultivates trust. For example, a health service provider that consults communities to understand cultural nuances builds stronger trust. Ensuring diverse perspectives are considered: Consultations reveal unique insights that lead to culturally sensitive service delivery. For instance, modifying a service based on migrant community feedback can improve its effectiveness. Improving communications: Direct feedback allows you to customise communication strategies to meet diverse communities’ needs. For example, a health organisation can adapt animated videos based on community feedback. Enhancing public image: Organisations that engage with communities and show a commitment to inclusivity are viewed more favourably. A local council adapting services based on community feedback demonstrates dedication to serving all members. How do I find community members to take part in consultations? Finding participants can be challenging due to disengagement, language barriers, or limited access to specific communities. Ethnolink excels at navigating these challenges using strategies to encourage participation: Engaging with community and faith leaders: Connecting with influential figures can build trust and interest in your initiative. Leveraging social media and community channels: Creating tailored content for platforms where your target communities are active can increase engagement. Partnering with community organisations: Forming alliances with organisations with strong community ties provides direct access to participants. Offering consultations at various times and in accessible formats can broaden participation. Providing information and conducting sessions in community languages ensures inclusivity. Case Study: Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Read full case study here. In a landmark project with the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), Ethnolink conducted community consultations across 37 language groups as part of a larger effort to ensure that community profiles resonated with Victoria’s diverse population. The Challenge Recruiting over 50 participants from various cultural backgrounds to ensure a comprehensive consultation process was the primary challenge. The goal was to verify and enrich ancestry information, cultural appropriateness, and communication preferences in the community profiles. The Solution Ethnolink’s approach involved targeted recruitment strategies, leveraging social media and community contacts to engage a diverse group of participants. The consultations provided a safe space for participants to share feedback and suggestions, focusing on cultural heritage accuracy and communication strategies. The Results The project significantly impacted by highlighting unrepresented cultural heritage groups and enriching community profiles. Feedback on dialects, traditions, and cultural nuances refined the profiles, now live on the DFFH website, offering a more inclusive representation of Victoria’s multicultural identity. The project’s impact was significant, with community members highlighting previously unrepresented cultural heritage groups, thereby enriching the community profiles and the portrayal of Victoria’s diverse communities. Participants also offered invaluable feedback on dialects, traditions, and cultural nuances of lesser-known cultural groups, which were instrumental in refining the community profiles. Conclusion As Australia’s leading provider of multicultural community consultations, Ethnolink is committed to ensuring every voice is heard and valued. Our experience and tailored approach facilitate meaningful conversations between organisations and Australia’s diverse communities. If you’re looking to conduct community consultations that reflect Australia’s multicultural landscape, reach out to Ethnolink.
