Moving Together: CALD Communities in Focus. Sustainable Transport Engagement in partnership with City of Parramatta and Transport NSW
We recently partnered with City of Parramatta and Transport NSW to deliver the CALD Community in Focus program, an exploratory pilot initiative designed to support active and public transport engagement among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Parramatta is a rapidly growing city where car dependency remains high, the program aimed to promote transport equity through inclusive, locally grounded approaches.
Drawing on principles of strategic design, the program integrated human-centred research, behavioural insights, and co-design methods to explore the real experiences of CALD residents and translate them into actionable program elements. Community consultation and targeted research were built into the program from the outset to surface meaningful insights and ensure the initiative responded directly to the lived experience of residents.
The program was informed by engagement with CALD communities including Chinese, Korean, and Indian residents and delivered in-language in partnership with local community organisations.
Research undertaken revealed a nuanced picture of CALD community engagement with Active and Public Transport challenging some previous thinking. Revealing overall high engagement with active and public transport however CALD participants faced challenges with system complexity, digital tools, and confidence in unfamiliar settings due to language challenges. These findings shaped a shift in program focus from general awareness to building skills and independence through scaffolded, experiential learning at a higher level of complexity for greater impact and engagement in the program. Workshops covered navigation, trip planning, and local exploration, supported by in-language materials and peer facilitation.
Workshops included:
Indian Community Transport - Everyday journeys
Korean Community Transport - Everyday journeys
Chinese Community Transpor - Everyday journeys
Cycling with Confidence
Parramatta Explorer
Evaluation through surveys and focus groups (n=40) showed strong outcomes: 98% of participants reported improved transport knowledge and 93% felt more confident navigating the system. The culturally relevant, hands-on delivery was especially valued.
CALD in Focus demonstrates how applying a strategic design approach centred on community engagement, human-centred research, and behavioural insight can lead to more relevant, effective, and valued transport programs. The process of exploring lived experience early on enabled the team to challenge assumptions, reframe program goals, and design with clarity and cultural responsiveness. These insights not only shaped a successful pilot, but also offer a powerful example of how embedding strategic design into public health and transport initiatives can lead to stronger community outcomes.