Naracoorte Lucindale's multicultural focus group

In an endeavour to embrace the rich diversity of its multicultural community, the Naracoorte Lucindale Council embarked on a journey of inclusivity through a Multicultural Focus Group initiative.

Recognising that 23% of the region's population boasts a multicultural background, representing 20 ethnicities, the initiative aimed to directly engage community leaders to gain valuable insights that could shape the council's future decisions and activities.

Central to the initiative, the Naracoorte Migrant Resource Centre played a crucial role. Not only did they provide logistical support but also facilitated cultural engagement, prompting meaningful talks and aiding translation where needed.

Collaborating closely, the centre identified six participants from diverse demographics to participate in focus groups, ensuring a representative cross-section of the multicultural community. These participants, in turn, became integral voices in candid and informal conversations that naturally navigated the insight of wants, needs and barriers within the council’s Wellbeing Program.

Reflecting on the success of the focus group, Uana Jericho, Community Engagement Officer, emphasised the council's commitment to forge robust relationships with their multicultural community.

"Through this engagement, the council has strengthened our connections with community leaders and gained a clearer understanding of how to increase involvement and tailor the activities we run".

Engagement strategies such as meeting the multicultural community at familiar locations before introducing novel services was another important approach used to create effective outreach with locals.

Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s Multicultural Focus Group stands as a pragmatic model of community engagement and is a great example of a starting point for other councils looking to prioritise inclusivity of their local culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Find out more

Naracoorte Lucindale Council
Uana Jericho, Community Engagement Officer
Email: uana.jericho@nlc.sa.gov.au