Glossary

GEOGRAPHY
acidification
when a substance becomes acidic, or is converted into an acid
adaptation
an evolutionary trait a plant or animal develops to better suit its environment
Agricultural Revolution
a period of massive change in the way that agriculture is practised
agriculture
the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool and other products
anaerobic
(organism) an organism that can live without free oxygen (oxygen in the air)
animal husbandry
the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock
appropriate technology
the idea that technology use in middle- and low-income countries should meet the community’s needs, be compatible with local socio-cultural traditions, and be cheap, small and promote independence by using local natural and human resources
artisan mining
individual or small group mining activity carried out using minimal machinery and very basic tools, such as a bucket and spade
aspect
the warming effect of the sun’s rays on vegetation
bed and breakfast
a guest house that just supplies sleeping accommodations and a meal in the morning
biodiversity
the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat
biofuel
fuel made from natural sources
biome
grouping of plant and animal communities that have adapted to inhabit particular parts of the Earth’s surface
bund
an embankment, like that of a river’s edge
capacitor
a passive electronic component – it does not require extra electricity to function – that, in a circuit, holds a voltage, or a charge, for a specific period of time when the electronic device is unplugged from an electrical outlet
cereal crop
grasses grown to produce edible grains, such as wheat, oats and rice
chlorophyll
the green substance in plants that allows them to use the energy from the sun
city
a larger town; in Australia this is generally defined by being a metropolitan area
climate
the long-term changes in temperature and rainfall experienced in an area
climax vegetation
the most dominant form of vegetation in an area
cloud computing
broadly, programs and services available via the internet: the ‘cloud’ is used as a metaphor to symbolise the worldwide and intangible character of the internet
colonisation
the process in which a species enters a new area and dominates it
coloniser
the first to inhabit an area
commodity
a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee
conflict mineral
a mineral mined in areas where there are armed conflict and human rights abuses
confluence
the point at which rivers meet
coniferous
describing an evergreen tree that grows cones
consensus
an agreement reached by a group as a whole
crepuscular
active at dawn or in the early evening
Crown land
land owned by the government
deciduous
describing trees that drop their leaves each year, typically for winter
decomposer
an animal, fungus or bacterium that breaks down or cleans up waste matter
demographic
related to the structure of a population
desert
an area that receives less than 250 millimetres rainfall per year
diaspora
a community of people who have had to leave their homeland but wish to return or remain connected to it
digital divide
inequalities in access and use of technology between countries, or between rural and urban regions, and even between men and women
diurnal
active during the day
domestic tourism
where people travel within their own country for recreation
domesticated
describing a plant grown from seeds originally harvested from plants growing wild, and which are used to plant areas such as rice fields
domestication
the process of taming animals or cultivating plants for uses that benefit humans
dryland agriculture
farming that depends only on natural rainfall and soil moisture to water crops
dugout
a shelter that is dug in the ground and roofed over
ecology
the way in which everything living interacts with the world around it
economic development
improvement in the standard of living in a region as measured by financial indicators
economy of scale
the advantage that a larger producer or consumer has over a smaller one because of costs that do not increase proportionately with size or amount purchased
ecosystem
an area of the Earth’s surface where living organisms interact with parts of the Earth
El Niño
extensive warming of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean, leading to an increased possibility of dry conditions in eastern Australia
environmental degradation
a change or disturbance to the environment perceived as harmful or undesirable
erosion
the weaning away of the surface of the Earth by the action of water and wind
eutrophication
an excess of nutrients in water, resulting in an increase of bacteria and plant life, which leads to the deaths of animals as the oxygen levels in the water decrease
evapotranspiration
the process by which water evaporates from land and water and is expired from plant material and joins the atmosphere
e-waste (electronic waste)
rubbish created by throwing away used electronic devices and components, such as batteries; also, the disposal of materials involved in their manufacture or use
expatriate
a person who lives and works outside their native country
extensive agriculture
crop or livestock production over large areas of land that requires fewer inputs such as labour; one example is wool production
exurbia
a residential area beyond the suburbs
factory farm
a farm where many animals are raised together in a small space
fair trade
trade based on the buying and selling of products (usually from poorer nations) that have been mined, grown or manufactured under humane working conditions, with appropriate wages for the workers and minimal environmental impact
floating
(a company) letting the public buy shares in it; this gives the company money to invest or spend
food chain
the sequence of feeding arrangements in an ecosystem in which each member may be food for the next highest member of the chain
food security
the knowledge that enough food will be provided for the population now and in the future
footloose
able to relocate easily
fragmented
broken up into smaller or separate parts
GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
the total value of all goods and services produced in a particular country; often used to compare the size of national economies
geographical concept
a key notion or idea that helps us to explore, understand and explain features, patterns and relationships on the Earth’s surface
global citizenship
our rights and responsibilities as citizens of the global community as well as our rights and responsibilities as citizens in our local community and the country we live in
globalisation
the process by which the world is becoming more interconnected, with an increase in social and economic integration between countries (for example, an increase in international trade and communication)
governance
the set of rules, organising processes and structures that groups, societies and countries follow to make decisions and maintain order in their day-to-day living
Green Revolution
a period beginning in the 1940s where new agricultural techniques brought great increases in production and greatly decreased the incidence of hunger worldwide
gross national income (GNI) per capita
the average total annual income of each person in a particular country
hectare
a unit of land equal to 10 000 square metres
high-yielding varies (HYVs)
varieties developed by selective breeding and cross-breeding to achieve faster growth and to produce more seeds
hi-tech
products and technology that are complex, and that use or produce the latest advances in computers and electronics
hunting and gathering
the practice of obtaining food requirements through the hunting of wild animals and the collection of naturally growing plants and plant products
identity
the ways in which we define ourselves
immigrant
a person who has left their country of origin and settled in a new country
industrialism
when a country’s economic and social systems become based on the production of goods through mechanised industries in urban centres, rather than through agriculture
industry
a type of commerce or business, such as the metal industry or the tourism industry
information and communications technology (ICT)
devices that can electronically receive, store, retrieve and manipulate digital data, and communication technologies, such as the internet and wireless, that transmit information
in situ
in the original position; not having been moved
intensive agriculture
where the land is intensively farmed with high inputs of things such as labour, water and fertiliser; one example is wheat production
international tourism
where people travel outside their own country for recreation
internet
a worldwide interconnected network of computers
intertidal wetland
the part of a shore between the high water and the low water marks
irrigation
the process of supplying water to a crop, typically via channels
La Niña
cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, leading to an increased possibility of wet conditions in eastern Australia
landscape aesthetic
the way a person responds to their environment
leaching
the draining of water-soluble compounds out of the soil by the flow of water
legume
a type of plant, such as clover, soybeans and lupins, that carries nodules on its roots; working with certain bacteria, legumes are responsible for the fixing of nitrogen in the soil
low- or middle-income country
a country that has a lower GNI per capita than wealthier countries
maize
a grain known in most English-speaking countries as ‘corn’
manufacture
to produce something in a mechanical way
megatrend
a major movement, pattern or trend emerging in the global environment
metropolitian
relating to a large city, its surrounding suburbs and other neighbouring communities
migration
movement from one location to another
monocot
a flowering plant that grows its parts in threes (the number of petals is typically a multiple of three); it only produces one embryonic leaf (cotyledon) in its seeds
monoculture
the growing of a single crop in an area
nitrogen
an odourless, colourless, unreactive gas forming about 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere
nocturnal
active at night
nomadic herding
moving cattle or other animals, such as goats or yaks, from place to place as food becomes available and so as not to exhaust the biome
north–south gap
the gap between the economically ‘richer’ and economically ‘poorer’ countries of the world – the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’
nostalgia
remembering good things about the past
ocean current
the regular movement of water in the ocean in a particular direction
offshoring
moving a business activity or part of a business activity to an overseas location
offsite sedimentation
the contamination of waterways by accumulated sediments washed from the land
orographic rainfall
rainfall produced when rain-bearing winds are forced upwards by mountain ranges; they then form clouds and (often) rain
outsourcing
contracting part of a business function to another person or business
panicle
a cluster of rice flowers from which the grain develops
pastoral land
land used for the grazing of cattle or sheep
penal colony
an institution where prisoners are held (often located on an island or an isolated location from which escape is difficult, or impossible)
peri-urban
areas just beyond the boundaries of the major urban centres
perpetual frost
an area that is constantly covered in ice, such as the polar caps
personal mobility
one’s ability to move around
pesticides
substances used to destroy insects and other organisms that can harm or damage plants or animals
phosphate
the salt of phosphoric acid, which is commonly used as fertiliser
photosynthesis
the process of plants converting sunlight to energy
population
the number of people residing in an area
precipitation
water, in forms such as rain, snow or hail, that condenses in the air, becomes too dense to remain suspended, and falls to the Earth’s surface
primary producer
an animal that eats only plant matter
principles
rules or morals that a person or company/group decides to follow
rainforest
a tropical forest environment with a large rainfall
rural–urban migration
the movement of workers from farmlands to cities and other urban areas
salinisation
when salt is deposited on the soil
salinity
the level of salt in soil and water
savanna
a grassy plain with scattered trees and shrubs
scale
(on a map) the amount by which the real world has been reduced so that it fits onto the map
sea changer
the colloquial term for a person who opts for what they perceive as an improved quality of life by the coast
selector
a farmer, often with few resources, who bought a small parcel of land following the land reforms in Australia in the 1860s
sequent occupance
land use changing over a period of time
service centre
a settlement (village, town or city) that has shops and services such as education, health and banking; larger service centres (cities) have a greater range of services than smaller service centres
shareholder
a person with a financial interest in a company
smelter
a factory where a metal (such as tantalum) is melted under extreme heat to separate the mineral (such as coltan) from the ore containing the mineral; conflict-free smelters use only minerals from lawful sources
soil acidification
a gradual increase in the acidity of a soil, which reduces crop productivity
solstice
the two times of the year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the winter solstice is the shortest
squatter
a farmer who in colonial Australia occupied large tracts of Crown land in order to raise sheep or cattle
staple food
the most commonly eaten food in a specific region
subsistence
(agriculture) producing just enough for the family to survive
surplus
excess
sustainable agriculture
farming that is conducted in a way that preserves resources
synthetic pesticide
a pesticide in which the active ingredient has been manufactured (as opposed to a natural pesticide, in which the active ingredient occurs naturally)
tantalum
a heat-resistant powder, refined from ores such as coltan (columbite–tantalite), that can hold a high electric charge
tariff
a government tax on imports and exports
temperate
belonging to a broad climate zone between the tropics and the poles
title deed
a legal document that shows ownership of a piece of land
topography
the natural or artificial features of an area
town
a built-up area somewhere between a city and a village in size
trace element
a chemical element required only in minute amounts by living organisms for normal growth
trade
the buying and selling of goods and services
transnational companies
(or corporations) companies that operate their businesses in and across more than one country; also called multinational companies
tundra
an area where plant growth is limited by low temperatures and a short growing season; usually found at high latitudes or high altitudes
turbidity
cloudiness in the water due to the presence of extremely fine soil particles that are held in suspension
urbanisation
an increase in the proportion of people living in built-up areas
vegetative phase
the stage at which a plant produces its leaves
venture capitalist
a company or individual that invest large sums of money in small companies to help them start up and grow
vineyard
a plantation where grapevines are grown, usually for use in wine-making
water table
the level below which the ground is saturated with water
weather
the state of the atmosphere at a given time
winery
a place where wine is made
World Wide Web (WWW)
the sites and pages that are connected across the internet
worldview
the collection of ideas, beliefs and spiritual connections through which we – personally, as groups and as cultures – understand, connect with and interact with the world
xeric
extremely dry, or adapted to extremely dry conditions
zonation
variation in plant life due to differing environmental conditions
HISTORY
1848 revolution
an uprising in the Netherlands by middle-class people who wanted more political rights
absolute monarchy
a political system in which monarchs have complete power, including over armed forces
age of consent
the minimum age at which it is legal for a person to have sexual intercourse
amphibious
involving land forces that arrive by sea
animism
the belief that spirits exist in inanimate objects, including plants, mountains and weather phenomena
anti-colonialism
a belief that a state or country should be independent, and not under the rule of another country
anti-racism
opposition to any form of racism
anti-semitism
prejudice against or hatred of Jewish people
arbitration
settling disputes by using an independent judge
aristocracy
a privileged upper class of hereditary nobles
Armageddon
from the Bible, the last battle between good and evil
armaments
military weapons and equipment
armistice
the ending of hostilities by mutual agreement
attrition
the wearing down of enemy numbers by constant attack
bannermen
a professional military group loyal to the Chinese emperor, in which positions were inherited by family members
bends
a condition divers can acquire by surfacing too quickly from deep water
benevolent asylum
an institution used to house impoverished families who could not support themselves
bereavement
the deprivation of relations and friends through death
bicameral parliament
a parliament consisting of two houses or chambers
blockade
isolation of an area by hostile ships or forces in order to prevent the entrance and exit of traffic and commerce
bluestocking
an insulting term for women who pursued higher learning in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
bourgeoisie
capitalist owners and rulers
boycott
the refusal to buy goods, usually for political reasons
British Raj
British rule in India
cameleer
a camel driver
canal
an artificial waterway large enough for boats to travel upon
capitalism
an economic system based on private ownership and free-market enterprise
capitalist
a businessperson who seeks profit by using others’ labour
carding
the process of combing raw wool or cotton to make it smooth and to remove impurities
cash crop
a crop grown for sale, rather than to feed farmers or their stock
casualties
those wounded or killed in war
catalyst
a person or thing precipitating a change
cavalry
soldiers who fight on horseback
Chartism
a social movement of people committed to the People’s Charter, a set of basic political claims, including the right to vote
chattel
a movable property or slave
cochineal
a scarlet dye made from the cochineal insect
cohong
a guild or group of 13 merchants who were authorised by the Chinese emperor to have a monopoly over trade, especially tea and silk, with the West
collectivism
an outlook that places the interests of individuals as subordinate to the group for the benefit of all
colonial system
arrangements made for the successful operation of colonies
colony
a settlement formed in a conquered territory
commodity
an item that is bought or sold, especially a raw material or something that is manufactured, for which there is a commercial demand
conciliation
establishing goodwill
Confucianism
a philosophy derived from teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE)
conscript
a person who is enrolled for compulsory military service
conscription
compulsory enlistment for military service
coolie
an insulting term for Indian and Chinese indentured workers in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
daimyo
a feudal Japanese lord, roughly equivalent to a medieval European duke or earl
demobilisation
disbanding troops back into civilian life
depot
a station for assembling recruits
diaspora
the forced or voluntary movement of people from their homeland to new regions
discriminatory
showing an unfair bias or prejudice
dispossession
taking a people’s land or dislodging or removing them from their territory
diversion
a strategy designed to divert an enemy’s attention
domestic system
a system of production in houses, cottages and villages, using hand-operated tools
dripping
fat melted from roasted meat and used for cooking or as a spread on bread or damper
drover
a person who drives a herd of animals long distances
egalitarianism
the idea that everyone should have equal rights and opportunities
Eight Regent Ministers
the ministers entrusted by Xianfeng Emperor before his death to guide his son when he assumed the throne
emancipist
a convict who served their term of imprisonment and became a free member of colonial society
embarkation
going on board a ship or plane
Enlightenment
a philosophical movement that placed emphasis on reason rather than tradition and gave rise to many progressive ideas
entrepreneur
one who undertakes an enterprise with a chance of profit or loss
equilibrium
a state of balance
ethnic
of a social group with a common national or cultural heritage
eugenist
a person who wants to improve natural characteristics by controlled breeding
eulogy
a speech praising a person, usually given at their funeral
exemption
freedom from an imposition
extraterritoriality
an exemption to local law; typically as a result of diplomatic negotiations
factory system
a system where many workers gather in a factory to operate large-scale machinery
female infanticide
the killing of female infants
feminism
advocacy for the belief that men and women are equals and should enjoy all the same rights
feminist
a person who believes that women and men are equals and should enjoy all the same rights
fire-stick farming
environmental management to create regeneration and grasslands by controlled burning
foot-binding
the painful practice of tightly binding the feet of young women, breaking the foot bones to stop their feet from growing; it was thought to make the women, beautiful, dainty and feminine
fossil fuel
a non-renewable fuel formed by geological pressure over a long time span
furlough
military leave of absence
girmit
a term for an Indian indentured labourer; derived from the word ‘agreement’
global warming
a rise in the Earth’s average temperature due to the atmosphere’s inability to release heat because of the growth of greenhouse gas emissions
governess
a female teacher, usually teaching children in a private house
Grand Canal
begun in 486 BCE; the longest artificial waterway in the world; crucial for transportation of goods and people in China
greenhouse gas
a gas, such as carbon dioxide, that contributes to the insulating effect of the Earth’s atmosphere
Han Chinese
the largest ethnic group in China
hierarchy
a system of organisation in which individuals or groups are ranked one above the other
Hindu
a member of India’s major religion, which involves the worship of many gods and a belief in reincarnation
hoeing
using a long-handled tool to dig the earth
homogeneous
similar or of the same type
howitzer
a big gun for the high-angle firing of shells
Hun
an offensive term for a German person
imperialism
the domination of one or more nations by another, which seeks to use the wealth and people of the dominated nation for its own interests
incapacitated
permanently injured
indentured labour
a system in which workers enter contracts to perform labour at reduced wages for a certain period of time, usually at a place far from their home
indigenous
native to, or belonging to, a particular land or region
Indigenous
relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
individualism
an outlook that emphasises the rights and interests of individuals
infantry
soldiers who fight on foot
infrastructure
structures (for example, roads, railway lines and canals) needed for the operation of a particular service
intoxicant
alcoholic drink
intrigue
a secret and underhand scheme
investment
the commitment of money or capital with the aim of gaining a profitable return
inviolable
not to be injured or disturbed
iron gang
a party of convict workers undergoing further punishment by being chained together
irregulars
troops that do not belong to the regular army
Islam
a religion based upon belief in one God of whom Muhammad is the chief and last prophet
junk
a Chinese sailing ship or river boat
kanaka
a disparaging term for a South Sea Islander brought to Australia to work; the word is derived from the Melanesian term kanak, meaning ‘person’
kowtow
to kneel and bow, touching one’s forehead to the ground
land fill
buried waste
lithography
the process of making a drawing or design on a stone or metal plate, so that multiple impressions in ink can be taken from it
loom
a machine on which thread is woven into cloth
lugger
a small sailing boat with two or three masts used for pearling or fishing near the coast
manhood suffrage
the right of all adult men to vote in parliamentary elections
mechanisation
the invention and use of machines for farming, production and transport
merchant
a person who buys and sells goods
merchant ship
a ship designed and used for commercial purposes (trading, buying and selling)
militia
a military force made up of ordinary citizens rather than highly trained soldiers
missionary
a person sent to spread a particular religious faith in another country
mortality rate
the measure of total deaths in relation to a total population
Mughal emperors
Muslim rulers who were in power in India from around 1525 to 1857
muster
gathering together a group of people to check their identity against a list or roll
mutiny
open revolt by soldiers or sailors against their officers
nationalism
devotion to national identity, or patriotism
neutrality
not helping or supporting either of the opposing sides
Opium Wars
wars in 1839–42 and 1856–60 between China and the British Empire over trade and diplomatic relations
outside daimyo
a daimyo (lord) whose lands were distant from Edo, the Japanese capital
Owenite
the term given to a follower of Robert Owen’s movement of an idealistic, socialist society
pacifist
a person who believes that war and violence are morally unjustifiable
pandemic
infectious disease that spreads over a large area of the world
pastoralism
the raising of sheep and cattle
pastoralist
a person who runs sheep and cattle on large landholdings
pauper
a very poor person
peerage
a system of hereditary noble ranks, such as duke, duchess, count and countess
penal colony
a colony that serves as a prison
pie-melon jam
jam made from tasteless melons that grew plentifully in paddocks
pilgrimage
a journey to a place of particular religious, personal or political significance
pogrom
a violent mob attack, often on Jewish people, that may be government-sanctioned
polarise
to divide into two opposing groups
polygamy
a system where men can have more than one wife
privation
lack of life’s necessities
pseudonym
a false name used by writers to hide their real identity
Quaker
a member of a Christian group, the Society of Friends, often involved in humanitarian campaigns and opposed to war
real wages
the purchasing power of earnings relative to prices
real of eight
an old silver coin, about 38 millimetres in diameter; also known as the Spanish dollar
referendum
taking a political question to the electorate to get a direct decision from voters
regent
a person who rules on behalf of a monarch who is too young or ill to take the throne
rehabilitate
restore to normal life
repatriate
to send someone back to their country of origin
restricted property franchise
an electoral system where voting is restricted to people with a substantial amount of property
rural
of the countryside
samurai
the hereditary warrior class of Japan
Sanskrit
an ancient language in which sacred Hindu texts were written in about 2000 BCE
schism
division of one group into opposing parties
Scottish Enlightenment
refers to a group of Scottish thinkers (Adam Smith, David Hume, etc.) who espoused the ideas of the Enlightenment
secular
non-religious
servile
slave-like
settler colony
a colony developed by free individuals, usually with the protection and assistance of a parent government
Shinto
a Japanese religion involving worship of ancestors and nature
shogun
the military dictator of Japan
social Darwinism
the idea that only the ‘fittest’ or most suited individuals or nations or races survive
socialism
a political ideology based on shared contributions to and shared benefits from society and the economy
spindle
a circular rod on which raw wool is twisted and formed into a thread
squatter
an Australian settler who ran sheep or cattle on large tracts of land without the permission of the government
stagflation
inflation coupled with high unemployment and stagnant economic growth
stalemate
a situation where opposing forces are deadlocked, so no winner is possible
standard of living
a measure of how well people live, with regard to their diet, housing, education and health
status quo
the existing state of things
suffrage
the right to vote in political elections
sultanate
a territory ruled by an Islamic leader (sultan)
sustainability
the ability to replace resources as we consume them
Taiping Rebellion
a civil war across south China in 1850–64 led by Hong Xiuquan
tallow
animal fat that is melted down to make soap and candles
tariff
government tax charged on imported or exported goods
tenement
a room or rooms forming a separate residence within a house
trade union
an organisation of workers joining together in order to achieve common goals such as better wages or working conditions
treason
the betrayal of one’s country, particularly by trying to kill a national leader or overthrow a government
trench foot
a painful destruction of foot tissue caused by continual immersion in cold water or mud
two-up
a gambling game played with two pennies, with bets placed on a showing of two ‘heads’ or two ‘tails’ when the coins land after being tossed in the air
unequal treaty
a treaty that is far more favourable to one country than the other; often the result of a military threat or defeat
unfree labour
a system in which labourers are compelled to work and are not paid wages
urbanisation
the growth of cities
vassal state a
state that pays tribute, either monetarily or militarily
veteran
returned soldier
xenophobia
having a hatred or fear of foreigners or foreign cultures and customs
ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
award
an agreement that sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment relating to an industry
brand
the distinguishing name, term, symbol or design used to identify a manufacturer’s product
brand leader
the brand in the market with the highest market share
budget deficit
where government spends more money than it receives in taxation and other revenue in order to expand economic activity
budget surplus
where the government spends less money than it receives in revenue in order to contract economic activity
budgetary (fiscal) policy
policy that sets out the revenue and expenditure of the government (both federal and state level)
card skimming
a scam that involves using a skimmer to collect information from a credit or debit card
collective agreement
an agreement that results from negotiations between an employer and employers at a workplace to determine pay and working conditions
commodity
a raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee
comparative advantage
the ability to produce goods and/or services at a lower opportunity cost than other firms or individuals; the ability to sell goods and services at a lower price than competitors
competition
the rivalry that occurs among sellers in their desire to seek and satisfy a market
competitive advantage
a point of difference or superiority held over a business’ competitors
composition of trade
types of products (goods and/or services) being traded
consumer
a customer or shopper who purchases goods and services
containerisation
the practice of transporting cargo in containers that can be used on ships, trucks and trains
debt
money that is owed to another party
deregulation
removal of laws and regulations
direction of trade
refers to the particular countries and kinds of countries towards which a country’s exports are sent, and from which its imports are brought
discrimination
any practice that makes distinctions between different groups based on a range of characteristics such as sex, race, age and religion
dividend
a sum of money paid regularly (typically half-yearly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits
e-commerce
commercial transactions conducted electronically on the internet
economies of scale
a proportionate saving in costs gained by an increased level of production
employed
describes a person over the age of 15 years who has worked for 1 or more hours for payment
employee relations
the relationship between employees (and their representatives) and employers (and their representatives) encompassing all aspects of their working lives including wages and conditions of employment
employer association
a group of employers who unite to promote their common interest in employee relations as well as to share information and offer mutual support
entrepreneur
an employee within a business who is takes risks, demonstrates innovative practices and often turns an idea into a profitable product or service for the business
ethics
a set of moral principles that a business needs to establish and follow
expatriate worker
an employee temporarily working in a foreign nation
exports
goods and services that are produced domestically and sold abroad
factors of production
a term used to describe the inputs used in the production of goods and services
Fair Work Commission
the national workplace relations tribunal responsible for dealing with workplace matters including dispute resolution, wages and terminations
Fair Work Ombudsman
a central point of contact for the Australian national workplace with the power to investigate allegations of workplace discrimination and then start legal proceedings against the employer
free market
a market economy based on supply and demand with little or no government intervention
Global Financial Crisis (GFC)
a worldwide economic issue that started in the United States and adversely affected economic activity around most of the world
globalisation
the growing integration of national economies and societies, so that no society is isolated and unaffected by changes and developments in other countries
government
a group with authority to govern a country or state
identity theft
theft that occurs is when a person’s identity is assumed to gain goods, services, money and other benefits, or to avoid obligations
import quota
restriction on the quantity of a specific product to be imported over a given period of time
imports
purchases of foreign goods and services; the opposite of exports
insolvency
the inability of a debtor to pay their debt
insurance
a service created to provide financial protection against loss, damage, illness or death
intermediate product
a good or service that is used in the eventual production of a finished product (for example, sugar and car components)
logistics
the activities related to product distribution between companies and to the consumer
lottery scam
a scam that typically begins with a false notification that someone has won something, but they need to supply an advance fee to collect their prize
market
any place where the sellers of a particular good or service can meet with the buyers of that good and service and where there is potential for a transaction to take place
market share
the percentage of total sales in a market held by one brand or business
mass production
production of large quantities of a standardised article (often using assembly line techniques)
mixed economy
an economic system that is partially free enterprise and partially under government control
money transfer scam
a false request for a large sum of money to be transferred to the scammer, usually under a false identity
monopoly
a market containing a single business
multinational organisation
an organisation with branches in more than one nation
national comparative advantage
an economic concept that states that a country should specialise in production and export of only goods and services it can produce more efficiently than other goods and services (which it should import)
National Employment Standards
the 10 minimum conditions that provide a safety net for employees
open innovation
a concept that encourages utilising external and internal knowledge by sharing knowledge
outsourcing
where a company gives some of its roles or functions to another company; for example, information technology is often outsourced
phishing
a scam where someone tries to trick you into giving them your personal details
price mechanism
an economic system where the forces of demand and supply determine how economic resources will be utilised
primary sector
a sector of the economy relating to natural resources
producer
a person or business that makes a good or provides a service to consumers
product differentiation
the way products are developed and advertised with unique selling points to make them appear different from others on the market
quaternary sector
the branch of the tertiary sector that provides intellectual activities
quinary sector
the branch of the tertiary sector that contains businesses that are in hospitality and services such as household services
scam
a strategy used to steal money or identity from unsuspecting people
shareholder
any person, company or other institution that owns at least one share in a company
social media
websites, applications and platforms that allow users to create and share content
social responsibility
the accountability of a business towards its stakeholders; the idea that businesses should contribute to the welfare of their community
stakeholder
an individual or group that has a direct or vested interest in the activities of a business
start-up company
a newly established business
superannuation
a compulsory payment made into a fund by an employee or employer that is invested and goes towards the person’s pension
supply chain
a system of organisations, people, resources and information involved in getting a product or service from suppliers to consumers
supply chain management (SCM)
the efficient use of resources, the production process and distribution of the finished product
tariff
a tax or levy on imported goods and services
tertiary sector
a sector of the economy relating to products known as services
trade
exchange of goods and services between countries
Trade Confidence Index
an index that measures the confidence of businesses involved in exporting goods and services to other countries
trade union
an association of workers in a trade or profession focused on protecting rights and interests of employees
transnational corporation
a firm owning or controlling production facilities in more than one country through foreign investment
unemployed
describes a person over the age of 15 years who has not been paid for any work and has actively looked for work within a 4-week period
work
the process whereby a person provides labour or other resources in return for a reward or remuneration
work from home scam
typically a get-rich-quick scheme that convinces victims to take on a role of working from home doing minimal work for large sums of money; money is taken from the victim in the form of fees and false investments
worker (employee)
a person who works for themselves or a business to produce a product or service
CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP
civil law
a body of law concerned with disputes between individuals, organisations or between the two, and compensation for the victim
common law
a body of law concerned with law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals
Commonwealth law
laws made by the federal government
criminal law
a body of law concerned with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offences
disparity
a large difference
electorate
an area with a member of parliament representing it
global citizenship
practising awareness of the wider world and having a sense of your own role as a citizen of the world
habeas corpus
a judicial law that requires all prisoners to be brought before a court to determine whether the government has the right to continue to detain them
hung parliament
an even division of seats between the two major political parties
minority government
a government that is formed when a party does not have a majority of seats in parliament, but is sworn into government by outside support
national identity
a collection of shared feelings, attitudes and values that represent an entire country
non-governmental organisation (NGO)
an organisation working on important human rights issues without influence and orders from a government
Opposition
the political party which has most seats, but does not have enough to hold a majority
parliamentary majority
held by the political party with the most amount of seats in the House of Representatives
precedent
an earlier action or decision that will influence all other following decisions on the issue
representative democracy
where people elect others to represent them in a decision-making process