Glossary
active citizenship
People getting involved in their communities and democracy at all levels from local to national and global.
advocacy
Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
barriers to being Australian
A circumstance or obstacle that keeps people or things apart or prevents communication or progress. In this course, barriers to being Australian are primarily legal barriers related to immigration and citizenship. These barriers are exacerbated by many of the obstacles and circumstances included under the definition of ‘barriers to participation’.
barriers to participation
A circumstance or obstacle that keeps people or things apart or prevents communication or progress. These barriers can include physical access obstacles, lack of knowledge, awareness, opportunity or experience, discrimination and perceived discrimination, restrictive regulation or legislation, lack of necessary regulation or legislation, limited opportunities, language or literacy barriers, …and much more.
citizen
A legally recognised subject or national of a state or commonwealth, either native or naturalised. Definitions of citizenship usually note that citizenship includes certain protections from the state and obligations from the citizen.
civic engagement
Working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community.
diversity
The condition or fact of being different or varied. It can include but is not limited to genetic or biological diversity, diversity of circumstance or origin, the diversity of identities, experiences and aspirations within a group of people and diversity of opinion or ideas.
global citizenship
Recognising the interconnectedness of life, respecting cultural diversity and human rights, advocating global social justice, empathising with suffering people around the world, seeing the world as others see it and feeling a sense of moral responsibility for planet Earth. In this course, global citizenship refers to an individual voluntarily extending some or all of the moral obligations of their citizenship beyond the nation or commonwealth that provides them with reciprocal protections and benefits.
global communities
People who are considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, locality or nationality. Global Communities in this course refer to groups of people from around the world with a shared interest.
globalisation
In its broad sense, the term ‘globalisation’ refers to the diffusion of manufacturing, services, markets, culture, lifestyle, capital, technology and ideas across national boundaries and around the world. It also refers to the integration of these geographically dispersed economic and social activities. The particular character of individual countries, regions and even localities interacts with the larger scale general processes of change to produce quite specific outcomes (P. Dicken - Global Shift, 1992).
government systems
Coordinated sets of principles, laws, ideas and procedures relating to a particular form of government or the form of government itself. The focus in this course is on practical engagement that will be required with Australia’s government system, noting that Australia’s government is a representative democracy, a constitutional monarchy, and a federal system.
interpersonal resolution strategies
Sets of behaviours that seem to subserve a social goal. In this course, interpersonal resolution strategies are those strategies designed to avoid or lessen interpersonal conflict between individuals or groups.
local communities
People who are considered as a unit because of their common interests, social group, locality or nationality. Local Communities in this course refer to both the communities of shared interest within the learner’s local area and the community of people who reside in that local area. Examples could vary from the whole body of people to the local branch of an environmental organisation or a music or theatre group.
metacognition
Learners thinking about their own thinking and learning. In this course metacognition focuses on learners thinking about and reflecting on their learning, Metacognitive skills in this course focus on setting learning goals, and monitoring and working towards those goals. The metacognitive progression in the course is based upon elements of critical thinking and personal capability.
national identity
The identity of a person or place is the characteristics they have that distinguish them from others. National identity would be ‘Australian identity’ for many learners of this course. Some would say that being Australian is all they have in common and thus all that there is to Australian national identity. Others would say that Australians share a varying number of characteristics that together distinguish them from others. Learners will explore the notion of national identity in Module 2 of this course and may reach their own understanding of what it means to be an Australian.
obligation
Something that a person must do. In this course it is assumed that membership of groups or communities brings both opportunities and obligations. This assumption may be tested and will be explored during the course.
opportunity
A circumstance that makes it possible to do something a person wants to do. In this course it is assumed that membership of groups or communities brings both opportunities and obligations. This assumption may be tested and will be explored during the course.
personal responsibility
Having responsibility for something or someone: having a duty to deal with them and to take decisions relating to them. In this course it is intended that learners will learn to take responsibility for their learning, their interactions with others and ultimately their democratic participation and community involvement.