In Australia, CALD is short for culturally and linguistically diverse. It is a broad term used by government, health services, schools, universities, councils and community organisations to describe people who have different cultural backgrounds and who may speak languages other than English at home (or alongside English).
CALD can be useful for planning services, measuring access and improving inclusion. At the same time, it does not capture every person’s identity. Many people will identify with their language, country of birth, ancestry, or community rather than the label “CALD”. A respectful approach is to use CALD as a planning term, and when you are communicating publicly, be specific where possible (for example, “Mandarin‑speaking families”, “Arabic‑speaking communities”, or “newly arrived communities in Melbourne’s west”).
Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. This diversity is a strength, but it also means services and information need to be accessible in more than one way. When important information is only in complex English, some people can miss out on services, misunderstand key details, or feel excluded from decisions that affect them.
CALD considerations matter across many areas, including health, housing, legal services, education, disability support, emergency information, community consultations and public events. When people can understand information and communicate comfortably, outcomes improve for individuals, organisations and the wider community.
There isn’t one perfect definition, and different agencies use different measures depending on their purpose. In practice, CALD is usually understood through a combination of indicators, such as country of birth, language spoken at home, English proficiency, and ancestry or cultural identity.
Using more than one indicator is important because two people can both be described as CALD but have very different communication needs. For example, one person may speak English fluently but still prefer important information in their first language. Another person may need an interpreter to fully participate in appointments, meetings or decision‑making.
If you work in government, a university, a health service, a council, or any organisation that supports the public, effective multicultural engagement is not just “nice to have”. It reduces risk, improves service uptake, and helps ensure people can access their rights and responsibilities.
Below is a simple approach you can apply to most programs, consultations and communications.
Avoid a one‑size‑fits‑all approach. Define the community you are trying to reach as clearly as you can. Ask:
If you’re unsure, start by reviewing local demographic information and speaking with frontline staff and community partners. Community organisations often know the best channels and what barriers people face.
Plain English helps everyone, including people who speak English as an additional language. It also makes translation more accurate because the meaning is clearer. A quick checklist:
Translation and interpreting are different services, and choosing the right one matters.
Use translation when people need to read and keep information, such as:
Use interpreting when people need to ask questions and make decisions, such as:
For high‑stakes topics (health, legal, child safety, disability supports, housing and complaints), professional interpreting is usually the safest option.
A common problem is: “We translated it, but people didn’t use it.” Access improves when information is easy to find and easy to use.
Practical steps that work:
Community engagement works best when it is two‑way. People are more likely to participate when they feel respected and listened to.
If you are running a consultation, consider:
It can feel convenient to rely on family members, but this increases the risk of misunderstandings and can place pressure on children or relatives. For private, medical, legal or complex discussions, professional interpreters help protect everyone.
☐ We have identified the main language groups for this audience.
☐ We have written the English message in plain language.
☐ We have decided what needs translation and what needs interpreting.
☐ We have made translated content easy to find and access.
☐ We have planned trusted distribution channels and community partners.
☐ We have allowed time for review and quality assurance.
☐ We have a way for people to ask questions (phone, email, in-language support).
If you’re part of a multicultural community (or supporting someone who is), you have the right to understand important information and to participate in decisions that affect you.
For important services—health, legal matters, government services, education meetings and disability supports—ask for an interpreter if you need one. It’s okay to say: “I want an interpreter, please.”
Children should not be asked to interpret private or complex matters. It can lead to mistakes and can be stressful for them. A professional interpreter helps you communicate clearly and confidently.
If you receive a letter, form or decision and you’re unsure what it means, ask for help early. Keep copies of important documents and write down key dates. If you can, request information in your language.
Community centres, settlement services, councils and multicultural organisations can often help you connect with services or find the right support. If you don’t know where to start, ask your local council or community centre.
We support government departments, universities, businesses and community organisations to communicate clearly and respectfully with multicultural communities across Australia. We provide professional language services including interpreting, NAATI translation, transcription, subtitling and voice‑over.
If you’re planning a consultation, running an event, delivering a service, or updating public information, we can help you choose the right mix of translation, interpreting and accessible communication. We can also support multilingual events with interpreting equipment such as booths, headsets, receivers and audio systems.
CALD stands for culturally and linguistically diverse.
Often it’s better to say “multicultural communities” or name the specific community where possible, unless writing for a specialist audience.
Translation is written. Interpreting is spoken. Use translation for documents and interpreting for conversations and decisions.
Request an interpreter for medical, legal, government, education or disability matters if you are not confident in English.
How can organisations engage multicultural communities better?
Use plain language, provide professional language support, partner with community organisations, and make access easy.
Australian Style Manual – Cultural and linguistic diversity: https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/accessible-and-inclusive-content/inclusive-language/cultural-and-linguistic-diversity
ABS – Standards for Statistics on Cultural and Language Diversity: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/standards-statistics-cultural-and-language-diversity/latest-release
AIHW – CALD Australians overview: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/population-groups/cald-australians/overview
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