Organisations collaborate on making resources for the Voice Referendum accessible to all – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

A collaborative effort has been initiated by organisations advocating for individuals with diverse literacy, language and cultural backgrounds, and with disabilities. The aim is to create accessible resources on the First Nations Voice to Parliament and the upcoming referendum. These materials will be made freely accessible to the public.

Life Without Barriers, Reconciliation Australia, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, Yes23, and Polaron Language Services have worked together to develop the accessible resources, including fact sheets, social media tiles, audio resources, and videos.

The materials will be translated into 100 languages and aim to inform individuals with low literacy levels and those needing information in different languages about the purpose of the upcoming referendum.

Chief Executive of Life Without Barriers, Claire Robbs, said “this year, we will be asked to make an important decision about the Referendum and our goal is to ensure that regardless of language, linguistic competency, or cultural background, all Australians have access to information so they can make an informed decision on a Voice to Parliament”.

“As a national provider of services, we believe we have an important role to help support the sharing of accessible information for people in the communities we serve,” Ms Robbs said.

“That includes many people who require information in Auslan, Easy and plain English, accessible formats, auditory formats and alternative languages.

“The upcoming Referendum will be a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. Everyone deserves to understand what they are voting for and the significance of their decision.”

The plan also aims to inform Australian voters who may not find mainstream and existing information on voice accessible.

“As a national service provider, our dedicated team of 13,000 carers and staff support more than 23,000 people, including those who live in regional, rural and remote communities or who may not have reliable access to the internet or the news media. We’re targeting our work to reach those people and communities,” Ms Robbs said.

“The intention of this project goes far beyond the scope of our organisation. We will continue to work with other community organisations across the country to ensure these resources reach a wider network than just Life Without Barriers, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“We want to ensure that no one is left out of having accurate and reliable information about their choice in the upcoming referendum. I look forward to continuing to work with Reconciliation Australia, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, Yes 23 and Polaron Language Services to ensure accurate information about the Voice to Parliament is available to all.”

The translated materials – social media kits – are available below.

Translations available:

Other languages are available online, here

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	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.