Cultural Competency in Support Coordination: Why it Matters and How to Develop It

As a NDIS Support Coordinator, you’ll work closely with participants, families, and support teams from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds. Your ability to understand and appreciate their unique cultural values, beliefs, and practices can significantly impact the quality of the services you provide.

You may have questions on how to provide support to participants from different cultural backgrounds, what common cultural misunderstandings to avoid, and how to develop cultural competency in your role.

In this article, we will explore the importance of cultural competency in Support Coordination and provide practical advice to develop it.

Important Resource for Support Coordinators: NDIS Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Strategy

The NDIS recognises the importance of Cultural and Linguistic Diversity (CALD) in the disability sector. To ensure people with disability from CALD backgrounds receive the support and services they need, the NDIS has developed the Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Strategy.

This comprehensive strategy aims to provide Support Coordinators with the resources and tools they need to understand and meet the needs of people with disability from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. The strategy includes a range of initiatives such as training programs, engagement with CALD communities, and partnerships with multicultural organisations. As a Support Coordinator, it is important to be aware of this strategy and utilise its resources to ensure that you are providing a culturally sensitive and appropriate service to all NDIS participants.

Understanding Cultural Competency in Support Coordination

Cultural competency refers to the ability to understand, respect, and work effectively with individuals and groups from different cultures.

By developing cultural competency, you can help bridge cultural gaps, promote mutual respect, and ensure that your participants understand the information being provided and are empowered to have choice and control over the services they need.

When participants feel their Support Coordinator understands and respects their cultural background, they will be more likely to trust their advice and recommendations. Additionally, cultural competency can help Support Coordinators avoid common cultural misunderstandings, which may include:

• Assuming that all participants have the same level of English proficiency
• Failing to take into account cultural practices around family roles and hierarchy
• Making assumptions about participants' dietary restrictions or preferences
• Misunderstanding cultural concepts of time and punctuality

By understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds of participants, Support Coordinators can provide more effective and respectful support coordination services.

Developing cultural competency requires effort, education, and self-reflection

Here are some practical tips for Support Coordinators to develop cultural competency in their role:

1. Educate yourself on different cultures and customs: Support Coordinators need to make time to understand the unique cultural practices, beliefs, and values of the participants they are working with. This knowledge can be gained through research, reading, and attending cultural events.
   
   
2. Engage with the community and build relationships with local cultural groups: Support Coordinators benefit from engaging with the local community to learn about different cultures to build positive connections within the community. These relationships provide valuable insights into the unique needs and preferences of participants from diverse backgrounds.
   
   
3. Use interpreters and translators when necessary: Language barriers can be a significant obstacle to effective communication.  Support Coordinators need to understand how to access interpreters and translators through the NDIS, to ensure participants fully understand the information being provided.
   
   
4. Discuss the importance of ongoing training and development for cultural competency: Cultural competency is not a one-time achievement but a continuous process. Support Coordinators should engage in ongoing training and development to stay up to date with the latest practices and strategies for providing culturally responsive support.
   
   

Some of these best practices include:

1. Being aware of and respecting cultural differences: Support Coordinators need to understand and respect cultural differences, as well be mindful of their own cultural biases and taking steps to overcome them.

2. Asking open-ended questions to avoid assumptions: This can help Support Coordinators avoid making assumptions about participants' needs and preferences and helps to build trust and rapport between the Support Coordinator, the participant and their extended network.

3. Being mindful of body language and nonverbal cues: Body language and nonverbal cues can convey different meanings in different cultures. Support Coordinators should be aware of these differences and adapt their communication style accordingly.

4. Being flexible and adaptable when delivering services: Support Coordinators should be willing to adapt their service delivery to meet the specific needs of participants from different cultural backgrounds. This may involve collaborating with community organisations, seeking out specialised services or connecting with an extended family/peer network.

As the NDIS continues to grow and evolve, cultural competency will become an increasingly essential skill for Support Coordinators

As NDIS Support Coordinators, it is essential that we understand the importance of cultural competency in our work, to improve communication and build trust with participants from diverse backgrounds.

Remember, developing cultural competency is an ongoing process that requires time and effort. It may not always be easy, but it is worth it to provide the best possible services to participants from diverse cultural backgrounds.