What is the Language Services Review?
The Language Services Review is a process undertaken by SBS to examine our language offering and ensure our services reflect and meet the needs of Australia’s rapidly changing and increasingly diverse society.
The Review occurs every five years in line with the Australian Census and considers factors such as the Census data, audience listening habits, migration to digital platforms, demographics and financial parameters.
Why does SBS review its language services?
As part of its commitment to continue evolving to meet the needs of contemporary Australia, SBS undertakes a regular review of its audio and language offering including radio, podcasting and other digital platforms to ensure it continues to reflect the needs of communities in Australia today.
Regular reviews enable SBS to better service the largest communities with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and offer services to emerging high-needs communities. The last Review was completed in 2017 using 2016 Census data.
What is the timeline for the Language Services Review?
The Language Services Review contains the following stages:
- 5th October - 26th November 2021: Public Consultation
SBS hosted a public consultation inviting audiences, communities and stakeholders to provide feedback on the draft Language Selection Criteria.
The Language Selection Criteria is a set of guidelines and measures that will be applied to the Australian Census 2021 data to determine the languages to be serviced.
Thank you for your submissions – the public consultation has now closed.
- 10 May 2022: Publish final Selection Criteria
SBS wants to ensure the process of reviewing its audio and language offering is objective, open and transparent.
Finalising the Language Selection Criteria prior to the release of the 2021 Census data ensures that the framework is not influenced by the Census results.
- June 2022: Australian Census 2021 data released
- July - November 2022: Language modelling and planning
Changes may include revised languages to be serviced and how each language service will be delivered – e.g., via AM/FM, digital radio, digital television, online and/or podcast.
- December 2022: SBS Language Services announced
- January/February 2023: SBS Language Services updated
SELECTION CRITERIA
What is the Language Selection Criteria?
The Language Selection Criteria is a set of guidelines that will be applied to the Australian Census 2021 data to determine which languages are part of SBS’s audio and language offering including radio, podcasting and other digital platforms.
SBS supplied the draft Language Selection Criteria and invited audiences and communities to provide feedback via a public consultation process that ran from 5 October to 26 November 2021. All feedback received was carefully considered before the final Language Selection Criteria was published on 10 May 2022 (see home page).
What is a High Needs Index and how is it calculated?
The High Needs Criteria (as set out below) provides a framework to help SBS statistically identify which languages are deemed ‘high need’ and should be considered as part of SBS’ Language Services Review.
High Needs Languages Criteria: (a minimum of 15 languages subject to SBS funding)
- Threshold requirement – population must be greater than 1,000*
- English language proficiency (weight = 45%)
- Recentness of arrival (weight = 30%)
- Ageing (weight = 15%)
- Household resources (weight = 10%)
*Population size based on 2021 Census data –Main language other than English spoken at home.
The High Needs index combines the weightings identified in the Selection Criteria with the demographic data supplied by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), to create a standardised way of measuring the relative ‘need’ of a language speaking community. It does this by scoring each criteria, applying the socialised weightings, and then combining all 5 categories into one list, known as the ‘high needs index’. The output is a list of languages that allows SBS to focus on those communities that are most in need.
What is the process for a language community to be considered under the additional considerations set out in the Selection Criteria?
The additional considerations (as set out below) provides a safety net to consider language communities that are not captured in the Large or High Needs Selection Criteria, subject to funding.
SBS may also include a sizeable ethnic community if its needs are significant but not adequately captured in the Large Language or High Needs Selection Criteria. Factors which SBS may take into account include:
- Discrimination/Vilification: where a group is subject to frequent discrimination or vilification in Australia based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.
- Immediate need: a significant increase in the population of a language group through Australia’s Humanitarian Program.
- Access to quality in-language media services
SBS will seek public information and consult with peak stakeholder bodies to inform decision making. This will include but is not limited to, the Department of Home Affairs for Australia’s Humanitarian Program, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Scanlon Institute and the Australian Communications and Media Authority for regulated Australian news and information providers of Language other than English (LOTE) media services.
How will SBS take into account the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian community?
All communities across Australia have been affected by COVID. The impact on Census 2021 data will not be known until the data is released in June 2022.
The provision in the Selection Criteria is important as it allows SBS to consider the impact of COVID when determining which languages and/or how languages are to be served. Census data trends will be reviewed, and consideration given to the following COVID impacts on language communities:
- Border closures and impact on net overseas migration
- International student numbers
- Need for public health information
- Pandemic health orders
How will SBS take into account language services provided by all parts of the organisation?
Since the last Language Services Review in 2017 the language offering across the entire SBS network has grown. For example, the expansion of the multilingual subtitling offering on SBS On Demand, the recent launch of locally produced SBS Arabic and Mandarin TV news bulletins, and SBS WorldWatch a dedicated channel for multilingual news.
The language offering across the entire SBS network will be considered when determining which and how our languages are best served within funding.
Why do we publish the Language Selection Criteria before the Census data is released?
SBS wants to ensure the process of reviewing the SBS Language Services is objective, open and transparent. Finalising the Language Selection Criteria prior to the release of the 2021 Census data allows a framework to be in place to select languages that is not influenced by the Census results.
Can I comment on the final Selection Criteria?
The Selection Criteria is now final. If you have any questions about the final Selection Criteria, please email languageservicesreview@sbs.com.au .
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
What is the public consultation?
The public consultation was a period in which SBS invited public feedback on the draft Language Selection Criteria. SBS is committed to ensuring the Language Services Review is open, objective and transparent; the public consultation was an opportunity for audiences and communities to have their say and help shape the future of SBS language services.
When was the public consultation be held?
The public consultation period ran from 5th October to 12th November 2021. During this time, the draft Language Selection Criteria was published on the SBS website so that feedback could be provided via an online submission form. To allow for an extended period of response, the online submission form was open until 26th November 2021.
Who responded to the Public Consultation on the draft Selection Criteria?
There was a high level of engagement with 1,456 submissions of formal feedback to the consultation, across 80 language communities. The majority of responses were from our audience and there was representation across all States and Territories.
Can we see the feedback from the public consultation?
For privacy reasons we are unable to share individual or group feedback. However, all feedback was considered in developing the final Language Selection Criteria.
Does Public Consultation really impact the Selection Criteria?
Yes, it does. All feedback from the public consultation was considered when determining the final Selection Criteria.
Why were there no changes made to the draft Selection Criteria?
All responses to the public consultation were reviewed and consideration was also given to the language representation of feedback received. The findings supported the proposed Selection Criteria.
The Selection Criteria aims to balance the needs of all language communities – established, emerging, large and small – and in turn ensure relevance of SBS Language Services to modern Australia.
THE CENSUS
When will the Census data be released?
The Census data will be released in stages from June 2022. It will be available on the Australian Bureau of Statistic’s (ABS) website: abs.gov.au/census
Can SBS rely on the Census data?
Yes, the Census continues to be Australia’s primary population tool. It is used extensively by all levels of government and business and is the most appropriate data to inform the Language Services Review.
The ABS 2021 Census was conducted on 10 August 2021 and closed on 1 October 2021. To achieve a high level of participation in the Census, ABS’ collection of data continued for several weeks after Census night. Households that had not responded were mailed a reminder to participate. Census staff followed up with dwellings that had not completed a Census form. The Census is undertaken in rural and remote areas over an extended period and paper forms from these areas will not be received for some time after Census night.
As at 28 September, over 90% of the national population had completed the 2021 Census, that is more than 10 million forms completed and they expect the response rate to exceed 95%.
LANGUAGE SERVICES
How will SBS develop the updated language offering?
SBS used the Public Consultation feedback from our staff, audience and community representatives to finalise the Selection Criteria. The language list will then be determined by applying the finalised Selection Criteria to the 2021 Census data and from this SBS will determine which languages will be serviced and how. The Language Services Review will take into consideration changes in audience needs and listening habits, the migration to digital platforms, demographics and financial parameters.
Do you already have a list of languages SBS will service?
No, the final Language Selection Criteria, will be used in conjunction with the Census 2021 data, to inform the list of languages SBS will service going forward. The SBS radio schedule and other language offerings will be decided after that.
Once the language services are decided, is it final?
As an independent national broadcaster, SBS has sole responsibility for determining its strategy, content and the scheduling of programs.
How does SBS funding impact the result?
Due to budget, it is unfortunately not possible for SBS to provide a service for every language community in Australia. In line with the available funding, the Selection Criteria will help inform the languages to be served, with SBS determining when and how the language services will be delivered.
When will the outcome for individual language programs be made public?
SBS is planning to announce the revised services in December 2022; this will include the outcome for individual language programs.
When will the updated services be implemented?
SBS is planning to implement any updates to language services from January 2023.
What do I do if I have more questions about the Language Services Review?
If you have any questions, please contact us via the SBS Help Centre.
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