Comments on the Review of the Financial Wellbeing and Capability
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) provided feedback on the review of Financial Wellbeing and Capability programs, emphasizing the importance of inclusive policy design and community investment. FECCA highlights the critical role multicultural organisations play in bridging the gap between government programs and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. These organisations build trust and offer culturally nuanced insights, which are essential for designing and implementing effective, accessible programs. FECCA recommends prioritising co-design approaches with these organisations and investing in their capacity to support CALD communities effectively.
Additionally, FECCA stresses the need for robust and standardised data collection across Financial Wellbeing and Capability programs to address service gaps and promote equitable resource allocation. Current data systems often rely on limited variables like language or country of birth, which fail to capture the complexity of race and ethnicity. This lack of comprehensive data hampers efforts to address socio-economic disparities within CALD communities. FECCA urges the government to improve data practices to ensure evidence-based policy making and inclusive service delivery, ultimately fostering resilience and equity in Australia’s multicultural society.
