This article draws on data from a small-scale qualitative study conducted in Australia that explored how pre-service teachers engaged with students from culturally diverse backgrounds during practicum and how they understood their own ethnic identities. The findings of the study suggest that pre-service teachers have simplistic understandings of…

This paper addresses changing meanings attached to the concept of "community" in languages education in the school setting in Australia. The change consists of a shift from "community" as a necessary definitional category, created in the mid 1970s to mark the recognition of languages other than English used in the Australian…

After three decades of diverse and intense immigration accompanied by a range of well intentioned initiatives by the Australian government to meet the needs of immigrants, there remain unsolved problems. An Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs evaluation (1982) found major achievements in establishing intensive programs of English…

Examines the philosophical basis of "Terra Nullius" as a justification for colonialism and racism directed at indigenous peoples, and its persistence as a pervasive mindset that impedes true equality and reconciliation in Australia. Discusses problems that arise when biased teachers or those with little cross-cultural experience attempt…

Briefly reviews two South Australian Education Department curriculum documents that justify the teaching of literature and then argues that newly arrived immigrants and many Australian ethnic minority students are denied the experiences of literature as established in the rationale of the documents. (HOD)

Study abroad programmes for teacher education students are increasingly being evaluated to determine their effectiveness in achieving intended outcomes. There is a danger, however, that such evaluations will ignore valuable but unintended and serendipitous outcomes of such programmes. This paper investigates an example of such an outcome, the…

The Australian Commissioner for Community Relations describes and criticizes the Australian traditional ethnocentrism and xenophobia, pointing out that Australia is and always has been a multicultural society. He emphasizes the need for wide changes in education and notes the potential of lifelong and adult community education. (MF)

Determines the extent to which Asian art is represented in Australian secondary art education. Surveys and discusses art appreciation classes, art education curricula, teacher education programs, and the Artists in Schools program. Maintains that although some progress has been made, Asian art is still underrepresented. (MJP)