Minister for Community Services Christine Campbell has announced the special funding after a report—called Speaking Out—found that Vietnamese people in Melbourne’s western suburbs were not using disability services.

‘In many cases, families caring for a person with a disability simply don’t know what is available,’ Ms Campbell said.

‘Those who are aware of services have found information is often not easily understood, the services not what they want or the social stigma of disability has prevented them from joining in activities and services.’

Ms Campbell said the Government’s vision for people with a disability was to achieve a sense of One Community.

‘I want people to feel they have a right to participate fully and equally in all aspects of our community.

‘That often means they must have services and supports that will allow them to become involved in their communities,’ Ms Campbell said.

‘The most important thing about the Speaking Out report is that it has shown us that Vietnamese-speaking people with a disability are often not getting those supports.

‘Unless we can offer the right services and supports, we will not achieve our vision of giving all people with a disability an equal opportunity to be participating citizens.’

Ms Campbell said $35,000 had been set aside to provide a Community Development Officer in the western suburbs dedicated to developing services for people from Vietnamese backgrounds with a disability.

‘For example, many in the Vietnamese community say they do not use respite services in their home because it is not considered appropriate.

‘However, they would use respite services that involved recreational activity with the whole family,’ Ms Campbell said.

‘We need to develop these types of service that are appropriate for the people who use them.’

The Bracks Government has also committed an additional $20,000 to boost existing services developed to meet the needs of Vietnamese people with a disability.