Diverse WA now available to not-for-profits

Diverse WA online cultural training package has been released today to the not-for-profit sector.

  • State Government extends Diverse WA to the not-for-profit sector

  • Program aims to lift cultural competency

Diverse WA online cultural training package has been released today to the not-for-profit sector.

Diverse WA was first launched in 2011 and developed to assist Western Australian State and local government employees to work more effectively with clients, colleagues and communities from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds.

Citizenship & Multicultural Interests Minister Dr Mike Nahan said it was vital that organisations and their staff were equipped to deal with the increasing diversity of WA's population.

"Our State is home to people from more than 200 countries, speaking approximately 270 languages and dialects," Dr Nahan said.

"Diverse WA has responded to a need across Government for a flexible, easily accessible way to increase the cultural competency of staff.

"It is particularly useful in busy work environments as the program can be started, paused and recommenced at anytime, anywhere and at the user's pace."

Modules on intercultural engagement and communication, as well as working with interpreters and translators, make the program a useful tool to help professionals and other staff respond appropriately to the needs of a diverse client base.

The program has become increasingly popular - an evaluation conducted in 2013 confirmed that it was successfully meeting a need across the public sector.

Since its launch, the non-government sector has requested access to the program and it is now available to incorporated not-for-profit organisations.

Diverse WA is based on a program developed by the Australian Government Department of Human Services. The Western Australian version has attracted interest from Federal Government agencies and the Tasmanian and Queensland governments.

Fact File

Minister's office - 6552 5700