What does this word mean?

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Below is a list of words often used in relation to people from a non-English speaking background with disability:

Asylum Seeker

A term used to describe people who have arrived in Australia and then applied for protection from the Australian Government to live in Australia and are awaiting determination of their status as a refugee.

CALD

Stands for 'culturally and linguistically diverse'; a term most often used by the Commonwealth and increasingly by the State governments. As everyone is culturally and linguistically diverse the term means little, although it is generally assumed to refer to non-Anglo-Australians.

Cultural Diversity

A term used to describe the multicultural nature of the Australian community; or to refer to different ethnic communities; or in a broader sense, to refer to the heterogeneous nature of the community as a whole, a community which is made up of many different cultures (i.e. youth culture, working class culture, bush culture, etc.).

Culture

'Culture is an abstract concept that refers to learned, shared patterns of perceiving and adapting the world which is reflected in the learned, shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviours characteristic of a society or population.' (Fitzgerald et al, 1995)

ESB

Stands for 'English speaking background'.

ESC

Stands for 'English speaking country'.

Ethnic

Ethnic is a term no longer used officially in NSW (i.e. Ethnic Affairs Commission is now the Community Relations Commission) but largely understood to refer to people born in a NESC or to people whose parents were born in a NESC (1st and 2nd generation NESB). The term is also used in the context of food and clothing. Most often the term ethnic is associated with:

• a sense of personhood;
• sharing common 'cultural' characteristics; and
• sharing language, behaviours, cultural practices and geographical area.

Lawful non-citizen

A non-citizen (of Australia) who is in Australia and has a valid visa.

LOTE

Stands for 'Language other than English' spoken at home, often used by statisticians instead of or in conjunction with born in a NESC.

NESB

Stands for 'non-English speaking background'. This term is used most often to describe people who were born in a country where the dominant language or culture is not English or Anglo (known as first generation NESB) and the children of those people (known as second generation NESB).

NESC

Stands for 'non-English speaking country'.

Migrant

A term used to describe people who (in most cases) enter the country by choice and can leave that country and re-enter their country of origin, if and when they choose to.

Multiculturalism

A term used to describe the way Australia is dealing with 'the challenges and opportunities of our cultural diversity' (DIMIA website). It is based on a policy which outlines rights and responsibilities. This policy replaced the previous policy of assimilation. The principles of Multiculturalism are loyalty to Australia; acceptance of the Australian system; and mutual respect.

Race

A biological (not social) term referring to biological inheritance, via genetic material, of a physical characteristic or a physical potential or predisposition.

Refugee

A term used to describe a person who has fled their country of origin and whose fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group has been recognized by the UN or in Australia by the Australian Government.

TPV or Temporary Protection Visa

A subclass of visa introduced by the Howard Government in 1999. This three-year visa is given to people who are found to be refugees in need of Australia's protection; and who arrived in Australia without a valid visa. People with a TPV are restricted in their access to basic services and family reunion.

Unlawful non-citizen

A non-citizen (of Australia) who is in Australia and does not have a valid visa.

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