Eastern Melbourne Community
Access Program

Many Chinese-speaking and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families with disability—particularly those supporting children with autism and sensory sensitivities—continue to face significant barriers to participating in community life and mainstream cultural experiences.

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However, the core issue is not simply a lack of resources.

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Across Victoria, an increasing number of leading cultural institutions have established inclusive and sensory-friendly initiatives. For example, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra offers Relaxed Performances, while institutions such as National Gallery of Victoria, Scienceworks and ACMI provide low-sensory or inclusive access programs designed to support people with disability and sensory needs.

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These developments indicate that Victoria is progressively building a relatively well-established inclusive cultural ecosystem.

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However, for many CALD families, the real barrier lies in access.

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Firstly, there are practical barriers. Due to specific needs, public transport is often not a viable option, and families typically rely on private vehicles or point-to-point transport. However, most major cultural institutions are located in Melbourne’s CBD, where traffic complexity and limited parking make participation difficult. In addition, transport and scheduling constraints remain key factors limiting participation.

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Secondly, there are psychological and cultural barriers. Uncertainty around unfamiliar environments, concerns about expected behaviour, and a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate support can significantly increase anxiety and discourage participation.

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In response to these challenges, the Eastern Melbourne Community Access Program has been established.

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This program does not seek to simply create new activities. Instead, it aims to:

Connect existing inclusive cultural resources with CALD families who have not yet been effectively reached

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At the same time, the program is actively exploring partnership pathways with cultural institutions to support more effective engagement for CALD families within these inclusive initiatives.

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Through this system-level approach, the program focuses on strengthening pathways to access, rather than increasing the number of services.

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The program is currently in an early implementation and development phase, progressively establishing a multi-layered support framework, including:

• Providing transport support where feasible to reduce access barriers

• Facilitating small-scale, supported participation to reduce first-time engagement pressure

• Designing gradual participation pathways to help families build confidence over time

• Offering cultural and language bridging support

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Through this approach, the program enhances access to arts and cultural experiences for people with disability, while also promoting cross-cultural engagement and social inclusion. It helps reduce caregiving and logistical pressures on families, contributing to improved wellbeing and mental health outcomes.

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Ultimately, the program aims to support families who may otherwise be excluded from mainstream spaces to build confidence, strengthen

connections, and engage more meaningfully in community life.

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In the longer term, the program seeks to evolve into a gateway platform for CALD communities, enabling systematic connections to Victoria’s inclusive cultural infrastructure.