1. The development of Australia as a multicultural society and the subsequent wider interest in constructing statistical profiles of particular ethnic or cultural population groups has, over the years, increased the need for quality language data.
2. To meet this growing need, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has incorporated language questions in a range of social statistical collections and has developed standards for a number of language variables for use both within and outside the organisation.
3. Proficiency in Spoken English is a variable used to assess the ability in spoken English of people whose first language spoken was a language other than English, or who speak a language other than English at home.
4. Data relating to this variable is used primarily to identify people who may suffer disadvantage as a result of a lack of competence in spoken English. This information can be used to target the provision of services to people whose lack of ability in spoken English is potentially a barrier to gaining access to government programs and services, and participating equitably in Australian society.
5. The variable Proficiency in Spoken English has been endorsed by the Ministerial Council of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs as one of the four Minimum Core Indicators of the standard set of indicators for use in measuring cultural and linguistic diversity. The set is to be progressively implemented in administrative and service settings to provide data to determine, measure and monitor service needs (access and equity requirements), and to provide a measure of cultural diversity in its broader sense.
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