Australian History Timeline and Essential Workplace Jargon Glossary

Key Australian History Milestones (1770–1901)

A brief timeline detailing the initial period of British contact and colonization in Australia.

• 1770: British navigator Captain Cook arrives in Australia.
• 1788: The first British colony is set up.
• 18th–19th Century: Thousands of British convicted criminals were sent to serve their sentences.
• 19th Century: Further voluntary immigration from Europe, gradually displacing the native Aborigines.
• 1901: Australia becomes an independent Dominion of the British Commonwealth.

Essential Vocabulary and Modern Workplace Jargon

A comprehensive glossary of terms, including corporate slang, professional definitions, and general vocabulary.

Adjust

Adapt.

Aspect

A machine used by call-center employees which contains the information they need to answer customer enquiries.

Barcodes

Computer codes found on products.

Blamestorming

Sitting around in a group, discussing who was responsible for a failure.

Bog

Toilet (slang).

BSE

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease).

Brunchyard

Group.

Childminding

Babysitting.

Chopping

Cutting.

Command

To be worth (a certain amount).

Copy-editing

Correcting written texts for publication.

Cube Farm

An office filled with cubicles.

Decruitment

Company policy of reducing staff.

Eager to Avoid

Determined not to do.

E-cruitment

Online employee recruitment.

Features

Non-news articles.

Features Editor

The person responsible for non-news articles.

First

Best possible degree qualification (First Class Honours).

From Hell

Extremely unpleasant.

Fussy

Excessively particular.

Gave It Away

(Here) Privatized it.

Glows

Gives a lot of light.

Good Vibes

An extremely positive feeling.

Hanging Loose

Remaining available.

Hectic

Busy.

Idea Hamster

A person who always seems to be full of ideas.

McJob

A low-paying job with no prestige.

Mean

Not generous or kind.

Mow

Cut (grass).

Odd

Occasional.

On Call

Available.

Open-Collar Worker

A person who works at home.

Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy.

Plug and Play

A new employee who needs little or no training.

Pre-School

Before primary education (3–5 years old).

Presenteeism

The feeling that one needs to work extra hours even if one has no extra work to do.

Quit

Left (a job or place).

Rake

Collect (leaves or debris).

Reprimanded

Criticized.

Section Off

Separate.

Shifts

Periods of time worked.

Shovel

Lift and move (material).

Smart

Computerized and intelligent.

Stacking

Filling.

Taking Bets On

Speculating, making guesses about.

Team Player

A person who works well with others.

Trim

Make smaller by cutting.

Trotted

Went quickly.

Underload Syndrome

Ill health or depression caused by a lack of challenge or stimulation at work.

Uninstalled

Euphemism for being fired.

Willing to

Ready to.