Glossary
Last updated: 23 May 2025
A working glossary of key terms relevant to engagement with First Nations young people. From engagement and co-design to intersectionality and decolonisation.
Accessibility. The practice of making information, activities, and/or environments usable, safe, and welcoming for as many people as possible. Areas of consideration include:
- Physical access (e.g. ramps, accessible toilets)
- Audio and visual access (e.g. captions, transcripts, AUSLAN interpreter)
- Sensory access (e.g. be mindful of lighting and noise, provide a quiet/safe area, providing fidget toys/tools)
- Other neurodiversity-affirming considerations (e.g. clear communication of expectations, clear signage)
- Language & communication (e.g. language interpreter)
- Location & transport (e.g. event is accessible via public transport, parking is available)
- Cultural safety (e.g. clear consideration for cultural safety & responsiveness, staff training)
- Costs (e.g. if there are costs incurred by participating, covering these can improve access)
- Technology (e.g. access, aptitude)
Bias. The action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair way, because of allowing personal opinions to influence your judgment. This can be conscious or unconscious.
Blak. Coined in 1991 by artist Destiny Deacon, ‘Blak’ can be defined as “a term used by some Aboriginal people to reclaim historical, representational, symbolical, stereotypical and romanticised notions of Black or Blackness” (Museum of Contemporary Art, 2004).
It has since also “become important in differentiating the Blak experience from the racialised experiences of non-Indigenous communities of colour” (Latimore, 2021). This term is present in Collaborate & Connect reports and materials within quotes.
Co-design. A participatory approach to designing solutions, in which community members are treated as equal collaborators in the design process.
Collaborator. For the Collaborate & Connect project, we chose to use the more comprehensive term ‘collaborator’ to refer to the First Nations young people who participated in and contributed to the project.
Colonisation/Colonialism. Colonisation (or ‘colonialism’) can be defined as “the practice of establishing colonies to extend a state’s control over other peoples or territories” (Collins English Dictionary, n.d.).
Criminalisation. The process of making something that was legal illegal, or of making certain groups of people criminals.
Decolonisation. Decolonisation can be defined as the process of dismantling colonial systems, structures, and ways of thinking “by identifying, challenging, and talking truth to power” about the realities of colonisation and its continued impacts across all aspects of society (Muller, 2023).
Engagement. In this context, ‘engagement’ means involvement in the design, delivery, evaluation, decision making, and so on, within services and organisations. This can include workshops, interviews, focus groups and surveys. Any time a service/organisation asks someone for input, feedback, or ideas, they are engaging with the person.
Eurocentric. Refers to a focus on European culture or history to the exclusion of a wider view of the world.
First Nations, Indigenous & Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. In line with current best practice regarding culturally respectful language, Collaborate & Connect uses the term ‘First Nations’ to refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Australian Public Service Commission, 2023; Reconciliation Australia, 2021). The term ‘Indigenous’ is used where it appears in external sources, and to denote non-Indigenous population data.
Intersectionality. Intersectionality is a framework for understanding the way in which different aspects of a person’s identity (such as race, gender, disability, class) and the forms of oppression they may face (such as racism, sexism, ableism, classism) can combine or overlap, creating unique and complex experiences of oppression and privilege.
LGBTQISB+. LGBTQISB+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, sistergirls, brotherboys, plus.
Sistergirl is a term used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe gender diverse people that have a female spirit and take on female roles within the community. Brotherboy is a term used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to describe gender diverse people that have a male spirit and take on male roles within the community.
How the words Sistergirl and Brotherboy are used can differ between locations, countries and nations. These terms may not specifically define who someone is, but might complement identity. Sistergirls and Brotherboys might be non-binary, female or male (TransHub, n.d.).
Microaggression. Microaggressions can be defined as “everyday, subtle, intentional — and oftentimes unintentional — interactions or behaviours that communicate some sort of bias toward marginalized groups” (Limbong, 2020). Examples of microaggressions include telling a person they “don’t look Aboriginal”, questioning “whether someone’s admittance to a program or job position was to meet diversity objectives” (Reconciliation NSW, 2024).
Neurodivergent. A nonmedical term that describes people whose brains develop and/or process information differently from what is considered ‘typical’. It is most commonly used as an umbrella term for those who are Autistic and those living with conditions such as (but not limited to) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Dyslexia (Australian Disability Network, 2024).
Non-Indigenous services/organisations. In the Collaborate & Connect project, ‘Non-Indigenous services/organisations’ refers to any services/organisations which do not only serve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Most services are ‘non-Indigenous services’.
In comparison, there are services dedicated to serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. E.g. the Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern (AMS).
Pathologisation. The act of unfairly or wrongly considering something or someone as a problem, especially a medical problem.
Young Person. The Collaborate & Connect project focused on young people aged 14 to 25 years old.
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