Discrimination is rising in Cardinia, putting one in three residents who speak a language other than English at serious health risk, experts warn.
According to Council’s Liveability Plan 2017-29, experiences of discrimination are associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis and substance abuse disorders, cardiovascular disease, adult-asthma and cancer.
In 2023, 31 per cent of Cardinia residents who speak a language other than English experienced discrimination (due to cultural background), compared with just 2 per cent of English-only speakers.
Age also played a role, with 15 per cent of residents aged 60–69 and 11 per cent of those 70 and over facing discrimination, compared with 7 per cent across all age groups.
Gender-based discrimination affected 9 per cent of females, compared with 3 per cent of males.
Cr Samantha-Jane Potter, who works in disability support and serves on the Cardinia Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, said “the data doesn’t lie, it’s confronting and very hard to read”.
At the October 20 council meeting, she warned councillors the data demands their attention, guiding where action and change are needed.
“This report isn’t just numbers on a page – it represents real people, our people, Cardinia,” she said.
“It outlines a path that we can choose to take as a community towards health, wellness, inclusion and living a fantastic life in Cardinia together.
“It is also a shared challenge for us all to bridge our perceptions, to see one another more clearly and to come together as one Cardinia.”
Cr Trudi Paton voiced a different perspective, acknowledging the plan’s noble vision but warning the reality, liveability index and the data collection, “tells a very different story”.
She pointed to other issues such as isolation, homelessness, poor mental health, neglected infrastructure, and limited cultural support.
Cr Paton criticised the plan’s top-down approach, saying, “the plan is full of promises about what Council will do, rather than how we’ll empower communities to do it for themselves”.
She added “I challenge us to go beyond consultation. We need to sit with our community groups, not just visit, but stay. Until we start with a clear understanding of customer needs, backed by consistent data, we risk investing in initiatives that sound good but miss the mark.”
Despite Cr Paton and Cr David Nickell voting against, the motion passed, with the remaining councillors voting to renew the Liveability Plan 2017–2029, prioritising improvements to community health and wellbeing.
The call for local action comes as the Australian Government extends public consultation on reforms to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, following 222 recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
The consultation, now open until 14 November 2025, seeks input on key changes including updated definitions of discrimination, a positive duty to eliminate discrimination, and clearer requirements for making adjustments for people with disability.
With Council’s Liveability Plan highlighting confronting data on discrimination, Cr Potter urged residents to have their say in the Review of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
“In my role as Councillor for Officer Ward, I’m passionate about ensuring our community is inclusive, accessible, and equitable for everyone. That’s why I’m encouraging you,” Ms Potter wrote on social media.
“As someone who cares for a family member with a disability, works in disability support, and proudly serves on the Cardinia Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, this review means a great deal to me, both personally and professionally.”
Residents and organisations are encouraged to have their say via submissions, audio or video contributions, or a shorter community survey. Feedback will help shape reforms at both the national and local levels.
To participate in the community survey visit https://consultations.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/dda-community-survey/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNuPSdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE5WkNMT0JVaHgzbkhCbHlBAR5Dw4hr8jC30FlWS3fJ8UBKn_OXoMKFpg80XriquOMycenykkzhpJA46Kr7_g_aem_I9lWFZCFr5mXPGDZOQw6sQ
