Abstract
Australia has traditionally used two methods to identify and measure multicultural phenomena related, in particular, to possible disadvantage. The most widely used method has been to categorise people as being of Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) or English Speaking Background (ESB) on the basis of their migrant status and first language, or the migrant status and first language of their parents. The second method was to categorise people on the basis of their country of birth. There has been growing concern about both methods, and particularly the suitability of NESB as a multicultural measure.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is working, in collaboration with other government agencies, to develop new and more relevant methods to measure social, cultural and economic disadvantage in Australia's multicultural society.
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