Trusted multicultural disability advocacy across NSW

MDAA received funding from the Department of Social Services through Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 and the National Disability Conference Initiative 2024–2025 grant to host a national conference that explored key themes such as social cohesion, artificial intelligence, and disability.

The event brought together academics, community leaders, individuals with lived experience, and broader community members for meaningful discussions and collaboration, leading to new partnerships, practical recommendations, and a shared commitment to inclusion.

The outcomes of the conference will help inform future policy, research, and community initiatives.

Funded by Fairfield City Council’s Youth Week – September 2024 Community Development Grants Program, this project was a collaborative initiative between MDAA and Stay Safe Australia.

The program aimed to empower culturally and linguistically diverse youth with disability by creating safe, inclusive spaces for active participation and learning. During Youth Week, we delivered a series of interactive safety sessions focused on practical self-defence, online safety, and building confidence in navigating everyday environments.

This partnership brought expert knowledge and hands-on training to the sessions, while the support from Fairfield City Council made it possible to reach and engage local young people in a meaningful way.

MDAA was proud to receive funding through the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Programme – Round 9, awarded with the support of the Office of Andrew Charlton MP, Federal Member for Parramatta.

This grant is helping us establish a community garden and upgrade our perimeter fencing, creating a safer, more inclusive outdoor space for our community.

The garden will offer a welcoming environment for people with disability, their families, and carers to connect, grow fresh produce, and participate in community activities, while the improved fencing supports accessibility and security.

With the support of Wayahead, MDAA proudly hosted a special event to mark Mental Health Month, launching our official 2025 MDAA Lived Experiences Calendar.

The project aimed to raise awareness and reduce stigma by celebrating the voices of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, in line with the Mental Health Month theme: “Let’s talk about it.”

The calendar featured portraits of participants, each accompanied by personal quotes reflecting on their mental health journey and offering advice to others. The project promoted inclusion, visibility, and open dialogue.

MDAA received funding through the Fairfield City Council – Community Aged and Disability Grant to deliver a 10-week wellness workshop series for carers.

The program focused on promoting self-care and wellbeing through engaging, hands-on activities such as relaxation techniques, candle making, and creative expression.

These sessions gave carers a chance to unwind, connect with peers, and focus on their own mental and emotional health in a supportive environment.

MDAA was awarded a grant by the Good Things Foundation through the Building Digital Skills Grant 2024–2028 fund to deliver a 10-week digital literacy workshop.

This program aims to equip participants with essential digital skills, empowering people with disability from multicultural backgrounds to confidently navigate online environments, access services, and connect with their communities.

MDAA received a grant from the Pride Foundation Australia’s 2025 Small Grants Program to host our Pride Morning Tea – Paint and Sip event.

This inclusive gathering is designed to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community in Western Sydney within multicultural disability spaces, providing a welcoming environment for connection, creativity, and conversation.

Our goal is to foster visibility, pride, and empowerment among people with disability from diverse cultural backgrounds, while strengthening community ties and promoting acceptance.

MDAA received a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to participate in the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme.

This program enables trained volunteers to provide regular social visits and companionship to older people receiving aged care services, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation.

Through this initiative, MDAA is proud to support multicultural older Australians and foster connection and wellbeing.

MDAA was selected to receive a scholarship from the Scanlon Foundation Institute to attend their upcoming Social Cohesion Summit.

This opportunity will enable our representatives to engage with leading experts, policymakers, and community leaders to explore strategies that strengthen social cohesion across diverse communities.

Attending the summit aligns with MDAA’s commitment to fostering inclusion, understanding, and collaboration within multicultural and disability communities.