The document discusses intercultural understanding and its importance in education according to the Australian Curriculum. It states that intercultural understanding involves students learning to value their own and other cultures, understand how identities are shaped, and engage with diverse cultures with mutual respect. Developing intercultural understanding helps students become responsible global citizens for living and working together in an increasingly interconnected world.

1. Intercultural understanding and ACARA
In the Australian Curriculum, students develop intercultural understanding as they
learn to value their own cultures, languages and beliefs, and those of others. They
come to understand how personal, group and national identities are shaped, and the
variable and changing nature of culture. The capability involves students in learning
about and engaging with diverse cultures in ways that recognise commonalities and
differences, create connections with others and cultivate mutual respect.
Intercultural understanding is an essential part of living with others in the diverse
world of the twenty-first century. It assists young people to become responsible local
and global citizens, equipped through their education for living and working together
in an interconnected world.
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Intercultural-
understanding/Introduction/Introduction

2. Intercultural Understanding
ESL and Multicultural Programs Unit
Cultural diversity of Australia (2011 Census)
Australia NSW
2.5% of people are Indigenous. 2.5% of people are Indigenous
69.8 % of people were born in
Australia.
68.6% of people were born in
Australia.
24.6% of people were born overseas. 25.7% of people were born overseas.
61.1% of people are Christian. 64.5% of people are Christian.
30.9% of people said they had no
religion or did not identify a religion
at the last census.
25.7% of people stated they had no
religion or did not identify a religion
at the last census.

3. Linguistic diversity of Australia
Australia
76.8% of people speak only English. 72.5% of people speak only English.
20.4% speak two or more languages. 24.5% speak two or more languages.
Indigenous languages are spoken by
about 61,800 people.
Indigenous languages are spoken by
about 1,299 people.
Most common languages other than
English: Mandarin, Italian, Arabic,
Cantonese and Greek
Most common languages other than
English: Arabic, Mandarin,
Cantonese, Vietnamese and Greek
Intercultural Understanding
ESL and Multicultural Programs Unit

4. Cultural and linguistic diversity
in NSW government schools
Intercultural Understanding
ESL and Multicultural Programs Unit
749, 162 students enrolled (2012)
229,106 (30.2%) students from language backgrounds other than English (2012)
47,086.8 (6.3%) are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (2012)
137,140 (18.3%) students require ESL support (2012)
3,998 students from refugee backgrounds (1 June 2013)
3,303 international students (2012)
6,500 – 7,500 newly arrived ESL students enrol each year

5. Main languages spoken in NSW
government schools
(as % of LBOTE)
Chinese languages – Mandarin,
Cantonese and other Chinese (18%)
Arabic (13.2%)
Vietnamese (6.6%)
Greek (4.0%)
Hindi (4.0%)
Tagalog (Filipino) (3.6%)
Samoan (3.2%)
Korean (3.1%)
Spanish (2.9%)
10.Italian (2.6%)
Main languages spoken by newly arrived students:
Mandarin, Arabic, Korean, Filipino, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Samoan, Tamil,
Persian, Dari, Indonesian, Nepalese, Urdu, Spanish, Thai, Assyrian, Japanese,
Punjabi, Bengali

6. Chinese
29%
Arabic
21%
Vietnamese
11%
Greek
7%
Hindi
7%
Tagalog (
Filipino)
6%
Samoan
5%
Korean
5%
Spanish
5%
Italian
4%
Main languages spoken in NSW
government schools(as % of LBOTE)