Community organisation SydWest Multicultural Services has welcomed several key measures in the Federal Budget, while warning that multicultural and vulnerable communities risk being left behind unless equity remains central to the implementation of major reforms.
The organisation praised the Government’s commitment of $308.6 million over five years to strengthen responses to domestic, family and sexual violence and support women and children leaving violent relationships, alongside continued investment in frontline services.
SydWest also welcomed more than $80 million in migrant skills recognition and skilled migration initiatives, saying the measures acknowledged the important role migrants play in addressing workforce shortages across sectors including construction, health and aged care.
However, the organisation expressed concern over a projected decline in spending on multicultural affairs and citizenship to $301.1 million, describing the reduction as inconsistent with migrants’ contribution to Australia’s economy and workforce.
Chief Executive Officer Elfa Moraitakis said a broader challenge remained in ensuring government investment translated into equitable access and outcomes for all communities.
“Migration is one of Australia’s most powerful tools for addressing skills shortages and strengthening the economy,” SydWest said, while warning that stronger alignment was needed between migration, workforce planning, housing and community infrastructure.
The organisation said concerns were particularly evident in aged care, despite the Budget allocating $3.7 billion to support older Australians and implement reforms under the new Aged Care Act.
While measures such as fully funded personal care services and expanded dementia support were welcomed, SydWest noted that more than 200,000 older Australians remain waiting for a Support at Home package or assessment, with no clear timeline for reducing waitlists.
For multicultural communities, these delays are compounded by barriers including language, digital literacy and limited culturally appropriate services.
“Showering being free does not matter if care itself is not guaranteed. Right now, too many older Australians, especially those from multicultural communities, are waiting without certainty, and that is an equity failure,” Ms Moraitakis said.
The organisation also raised concerns over planned reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), warning that tighter access rules and sustainability measures could disproportionately affect multicultural communities already facing barriers to disability services.
“We support reform, but if equity is not built into how these changes are implemented, we risk creating systems that work well for some and leave others behind,” Ms Moraitakis said.
SydWest said the same pattern was emerging across aged care, disability, migration and women’s safety, where increasing demand and tightening systems risk disadvantaging those least able to navigate complexity.
“If we are serious about building a fair and inclusive Australia, we must ensure that our systems work for everyone not just those best placed to access them,” Ms Moraitakis said.
“Without that focus, the gap between policy ambition and lived reality will continue to widen and multicultural communities will carry a disproportionate burden.”
