ECCV Glossary of Terms
Ethnic / Ethnicity
Ethnicity is a term used to describe a group of people sharing self-identified distinctive national,
linguistic, historical or cultural heritage.
The Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria’s principle constituency are migrant groups sharing the
characteristics listed above.
CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse)
Culturally and linguistically diverse is a broad and inclusive descriptor for communities with diverse
language, ethnic background, nationality, dress, traditions, food, societal structures, art and religion
characteristics.
This term is used broadly and often synonymously with the term ‘ethnic communities’. CALD is the
preferred term for many government and community agencies as a contemporary descriptor for ethnic
communities.
CALD people are generally defined as those people born overseas, in countries other than those
classified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as “main English speaking countries”. The set
of main English speaking countries other than Australia used by the ABS comprises: Canada, the
Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales,
Northern Ireland) and the United States of America.
NESB (non English-speaking background)
NESB describes a subgroup of CALD communities who come from culturally diverse backgrounds
and, in addition, do not speak English as a first language.
ECCV is aware that people from non-English speaking backgrounds often experience discrimination
and face inequality and advocates for service providers to support multiculturalism through inclusive
service provision including language service support.
Diverse
Diverse is commonly used to describe ethnic, NESB and CALD communities in media and
communications documents. This term is widely accessible and understood by the broader
community.
It is used at times in government as a policy descriptor that encompasses other groups such as low
socio-economic, gender, the aged, homeless, even those with a particular health issue such as
people living with Dementia.
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In ECCV documents, the term diverse is used in the context of CALD communities and in general
does not describe other types of diversity.
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is a demographic descriptor, a culturally inclusive ideology and a Federal and State
Government policy.
Victoria has a multicultural (or ‘many cultures’) demography. It has one of the world's most culturally
and linguistically diverse communities with over 40 per cent of Victorians born overseas or having at
least one parent born overseas.
As an ideology, multiculturalism recognises the values and benefits of cultural diversity for all
Australians, within the broader aims of national unity, community harmony and maintenance of
democratic values.
Multiculturalism promotes a just, inclusive and socially cohesive society, where services are
responsive to the needs of Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Multiculturalism was introduced by the Federal Government as a policy in 1972. The Federal
Government’s commitment to this policy was reconfirmed with the launch of The People of Australia –
Australia's Multicultural Policy in February 2011 by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the
Hon Chris Bowen MP.
Source: The People of Australia – Australia's Multicultural Policy
Recently-arrived
ECCV acknowledges that apart from indigenous Australians, all Australians trace their linage to a
migration journey. Migrant groups are often characterized by their length of residency in Australia for
the purposes of service provision and policy planning.
This term is generally used as a relative descriptor when describing migration in relation to time. The
term recently-arrived is generally used to identify migrant and refugee groups still in need of additional
support. The Department of Immigration & Citizenship defines ‘recently arrived’ as up to 5 years in
Australia.
ECCV uses the term recently-arrived to describe communities consisting of first and second
generation migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and permanent residents who have been here for up
to 10 years or individuals who have been here less than 5 years. These communities generally have
culturally and linguistically specific service needs which, when addressed, facilitate their successful
participation in Australian life.
New and Emerging
New and emerging communities are small in number, recently arrived and may have all or some of
the following characteristics:
ECCV defines new and emerging communities as those groups that:


have recently settled in Australia
are small in number but with a significant increase in the previous five years
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
lack sufficient infrastructure resources relative to established ethnic communities. 1
ECCV notes that people from new and emerging communities may experience some or all of the
following2:

lack established family networks, support systems, community structures and resources,
relative to more established communities

are more vulnerable than established communities as they are often from a refugee
background and have experienced displacement due to civil unrest

have low levels of education and workforce skills due to displacement

have limited English language skills

are unfamiliar with mainstream government services that are available in Australia and are
less likely to be able to locate services that can help them meet their basic needs

experience employment and job advancement barriers

face difficulties gaining recognition for overseas qualifications
The term “New and Emerging” can be applied to these communities for time period of up to one
generation, however, the needs of these communities can exceed this period.
Established communities
Established communities have generally been resident in Australia between one to two generations or
more. They are varied in size and service needs, but generally have a greater need for aged care
support than newer communities. They may have all or some of the following characteristics:
-
Long-term resident communities, particular migrants arriving in the post WWII and Vietnam
(American) War periods.
Well established independent and interdependent infrastructure and resources
Significant networks of family support, particularly networks of a number of generations
Often from a refugee background and have experienced racism either in country of origin or
after arrival in Australia
Include high rates of second generation education and life success
Include individuals with low levels of education and skill due to displacement
Include individuals who do not have English language skills through to individuals with native
English skills
Include individuals who need aged care facilities and support
Include ‘second wave’ migrant groups arriving in Australia during different time periods
Experience community identity challenges related to inter-generational differences and
‘second wave’ group differences
Have developed sense of community identity as it relates to Australian identity
Race
Race is a term that is used in the public space to loosely describe individuals or groups with particular
physical characteristics, religions, ethnic backgrounds, cultural customs, collective histories or
countries of origin.
1
James Jupp AM, Defining New and Emerging Communities in Australian Mosaic Issue 24, March 2010 p10-12
and Policy Document FECCA New and Emerging Communities Policy Supporting New and Emerging
Communities to Participate in and Contribute to Australian Society 2010
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Adapted from FECCA New and Emerging Communities Policy Statement 2010
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ECCV uses the term race in contexts where racism is being discussed. Racism occurs when
individuals or groups are being discriminated against based on the characteristics listed above.
As a term, race is problematic because it is an arbitrary socially constructed descriptor with no
substantive basis in biology.
ECCV understands that this term still has currency in Australian society.
Racism
Racism is discriminating against someone based on physical characteristics, descent or ancestry,
nationality, religious belief, ethnicity, or ethnic origin. This includes bullying someone or discriminating
against them ecause of a specific characteristic.
In Victoria it is against the law to discriminate against someone because of their actual or assumed
race - this is called racial discrimination.
Source: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Boat people
The term boat people is largely used in the public space to describe asylum seekers who arrive by
sea. It is a term used to gain political advantage and has been adopted unthinkingly by some
elements of the media. Asylum seekers are described by DIAC as Irregular Maritime Arrivals (IMA)
and non-IMA (i.e. air arrival) asylum seekers who are legally seeking protection.
ECCV uses the term asylum seeker when describing either air or sea arrivals and does not use the
term boat people.
Mainstream
Mainstream is defined as a dominant cultural framework or group, often constructed by stories told
through media outlets and dominant political narratives. ‘Mainstream culture’ is malleable,
multidimensional and largely a constructed idea built in the public space.
Australian mainstream culture has been largely defined by Anglo-Christian traditions and norms,
although this culture is evolving.
The mainstream can both include and exclude multicultural communities at different levels, depending
on the access points and specific issues being discussed.
While ‘mainstream’ culture can reflect general trends and power groups, this word should be avoided
in ECCV publications as it is imprecise and encourages a constructed dichotomy between
‘mainstream’ and so –called ‘non-mainstream’. It is ECCV’s mandate to reconstruct mainstream
culture to be diverse and inclusive of all Australians.
23 October 2012
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