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National Agenda for a Multicultural Australia

Achievements

The Commonwealth has already taken substantial steps towards realisation of these objectives:

  • In 1987 the Commonwealth adopted a National Policy on Languages which included the goals of English for all, a language other than English for all, the maintenance and development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait island languages and provision of widespread and equitable services in languages other than English. The three-year program ($28 million in 1988-89) included:
-   a doubling of funds to provide up to 12 months intensive English language tuition for newly arrived school children;
-   a new Australian Second Language Learning Program ($7.6 million in 1988-89) to support the teaching of languages other than English in schools and to supplement the language teaching role of ethnic schools;
-   a new National Aboriginal Languages Program ($1 million in 1988-89) to assist Aboriginal communities maintain their languages;
-   a new Asian Studies Program, administered through the Asian Studies Council. The major objectives of the Council are to raise Australians' awareness of Asian languages and studies, and to provide a focus for education needs in Asian Studies at all levels; and
-   the establishment of an Australian Advisory Council for Languages and Multicultural Education to monitor the implementation of these initiatives.
  • The establishment in 1989 of a Languages Institute of Australia, to be funded largely from the National Policy on Languages Program and the Key Centres of Teaching and Research Program
    -   the Institute will improve the quality and extent of language education in Australia. It represents a new form of co-operative institutional structure consisting of a central secretariat complemented by a language testing unit, a number of Teaching and Curriculum Centres and research and development programs. it will also set up a national database and clearing house on languages.

  • ESL at the post-school level is supported mainly through DILGEA's Adult Migrant Education Program (AMEP) but also through DEET's Advanced English Language Program and some of its labour market programs (e.g. Jobtrain). AMEP funding has increased from $39 million to $62 million in the last six years and since the Campbell Report (1985) the Program has undertaken some major developments:

    -   there have been major improvements in curriculum development and in in-service teacher education through the establishment of a National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research and a range of developmental projects such as the National Curriculum Project;
    -   there has been a large increase in the range of courses offered: in particular English by correspondence, English in the workplace, courses at tertiary institutions and other courses for overseas-qualified professionals; and
    -   the Program's objectives have been defined as part of a new three year AMEP National Plan to give priority to immigrants with less than five years residence in Australia. This will assist in the achievement of the social and economic objectives of the Government's migration program.

  • Cross-cultural communication has been directly addressed through the three year Multicultural and Cross-Cultural Supplementation Program of the National Policy on Languages. Funds are provided to tertiary education institutions to design and adapt their curricula so as to equip future professionals and paraprofessionals to function effectively in a multicultural society.

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