Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)

CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) is the term used in Australia to describe communities and individuals who come from non-English speaking backgrounds or whose cultural heritage differs from the dominant Anglo-Australian culture. The term encompasses a broad spectrum of communities, including established migrant communities, recent arrivals, refugees, international students, and second-generation Australians who maintain strong cultural and linguistic connections to their heritage.

According to the 2021 Census, nearly half of all Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. Over 5.5 million people speak a language other than English at home, with more than 300 languages spoken across the country. The largest non-English language groups include Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Greek, Italian, Hindi, Spanish, and Filipino/Tagalog. For a full breakdown of language statistics, see the most common languages spoken in Australia.

CALD communities are not a homogeneous group. Each community has distinct cultural values, communication preferences, media consumption habits, trust networks, and settlement experiences. Effective communication with CALD communities requires understanding these differences rather than treating cultural diversity as a single category. Our comprehensive guide to CALD in Australia covers the history of the term, how it differs from "multicultural," and why it matters for organisations.

The term CALD is primarily used in Australian government, health, education, and community services contexts. While it has been critiqued for potentially homogenising diverse experiences, it remains the standard terminology in Australian policy and practice for referring to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the population.

For practical strategies on reaching CALD audiences, see our CALD Communications Guide and our article on engaging CALD communities for government and NFPs.

Australia's cultural and linguistic diversity is one of its defining characteristics, and organisations that serve the public — government agencies, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and community services — have both practical and ethical obligations to communicate effectively with CALD communities.

Failure to engage CALD communities in culturally and linguistically appropriate ways results in lower service utilisation, poorer health outcomes, reduced civic participation, and communities that feel excluded from the institutions designed to serve them. Understanding CALD demographics and communication needs is the foundation for any effective multicultural communication strategy.