Tara Community Care was invited to present at the National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference 2025, held on 11–12 November 2025 in Melbourne and organised by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA). The conference brought together leaders, practitioners, researchers, and community organisations from across the country to strengthen health and wellbeing outcomes for multicultural communities.
As part of Concurrent Session 2B – Health Promotion Strategies in Multicultural Health, Sarath Pathickal Eldhose from Tara Community Care presented on the topic:
“Building Routines, Bridging Gaps: A Family-Centred Autism Support Program for CALD Communities.”
A Family-Centred, Culturally Responsive Approach
The presentation highlighted Tara Community Care’s work in supporting families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities who are navigating autism diagnoses and complex support systems.
Sarath spoke about the importance of:
- Building daily routines that are practical, culturally relevant, and family-led
- Empowering parents and carers with knowledge, confidence, and advocacy skills
- Bridging gaps between families and service systems through trust, cultural understanding, and consistent, relationship-based support
Reflecting on the program, Sarath shared:
“For many CALD families, autism support is not just about services — it’s about trust, understanding, and being seen. When we work alongside families and respect their cultural strengths, routines become empowering rather than overwhelming.”
The session generated strong interest and meaningful discussion, with participants reflecting on shared challenges and opportunities in delivering culturally responsive autism and family support.
Learning, Sharing, and Connecting
Alongside the presentation, the Tara Community Care team was also present across the two-day conference, engaging in discussions, attending sessions, and connecting with other organisations and community groups working in multicultural health, disability, and community services.
The conference provided valuable opportunities to:
- Share Tara’s community-based and family-centred practice model
- Learn from innovative health promotion approaches in multicultural settings
- Network with service providers, peak bodies, and community organisations from across Australia
These exchanges reinforced the importance of co-design, cultural humility, and community-led solutions in improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
Moving Forward Together
Being invited to present at the National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference 2025 reflects Tara Community Care’s ongoing commitment to culturally safe, inclusive, and strengths-based support, particularly for CALD families of children with autism.
We look forward to building on the connections made at the conference, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to advocate for systems that recognise culture, language, and lived experience as central to wellbeing.
Thank you to FECCA for convening this important national forum and to everyone who connected with Tara Community Care during the event. Together, we are building routines, bridging gaps, and creating more inclusive pathways for CALD communities.