Joseph Lo Bianco

Biography

Professor Lo Bianco wrote Australia's National Policy on Languages in 1987, the first multilingual national language policy in an English speaking country and was Chief Executive of the National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia until 2002.

Professor Lo Bianco has advised on language, culture and literacy education, and on the integration of indigenous and immigrant children into mainstream schools, reconciliation and peace through education, in many countries, including Canada, Ireland, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, UK , Vietnam and Wales, among others.

Since 2011 he has served as research advisor for LUCIDE, a European Commission project on Languages in Urban Communities - Integration and Diversity for Europe, conducting large scale 4 year research on multilingualism at the municipal level in 12 European cities.

In January 2014 he commenced in an academic advisory role with the National Research Centre for Foreign Language Education at Beijing Foreign Studies University which has included providing advice to the State Language Commission of China and supporting academic research initiatives.

He supervises PhD research projects and teaches courses in language planning, and supports international research projects in several countries on language and culture studies, language planning and multiculturalism/intercultural education. His language policy advising activity includes language services for the Sydney Olympic Games, a report which was subsequently used to support planning of language services at the Athens and London Games, assistance to the government of Ireland to produce a 20 year strategy to support the vitality of Irish, support on basic education, literacy and language policy in South Africa, Hawaii, Italy, Alberta (Canada), Western Samoa and other Pacific Island countries, preparation of a National Language Education plan for the Government of Sri Lanka, 1999, under World Bank financing; commissioned support for language policy in Scotland and Northern Ireland, among other international collaboration activities.

The National Policy on Languages

The National Policy on Languages (NPL)[1] was issued by the Australian Government Publishing Service (AGPS) in March 1987. It was the first comprehensive national language policy in Australia. On 26 April 1987 the Prime Minister announced the government's endorsement of the Policy

The National Policy on Languages was adopted as a national plan to cover all of Australia's language needs and interests (English and English literacy, and English as a second and foreign language and languages other than English (including Indigenous language rights, immigrant and foreign languages) as well as language services (research, translating and interpreting, public media)[2].

One of its initiatives was for the co-ordination of research activity nationally, including the creation of the National Languages and Literacy Institute of Australia and its 32 constituent research centres across Australia. The aim of the NLLIA was to embed applied linguistics research into mainstream academic activity.

In its 1990 report to the International Conference on Education the Australian Department of Employment, Education and Training described the NPL as ".... one of the most influential documents in Australian education."

Today the NPL is often cited as an example of comprehensive and coordinated language planning.

Books and major reports

• Lo Bianco, J. (2016). UNICEF EAPRO – Suggestions for UNICEF EAPRO Strategy (2016-2020) on Multilingual Education and Social Cohesion: The University of Melbourne.
• Lo Bianco, J. (2016). Myanmar Country Report: Language, Education and Social Cohesion (LESC) Initiative. UNICEF.
• Lo Bianco, J. (2016). Malaysia Country Report: Language, Education and Social Cohesion (LESC) Initiative. UNICEF.
• Lo Bianco, J. (2016). Synthesis Report: Language, Education and Social Cohesion (LESC) Initiative. UNICEF.
• Lo Bianco, J., & Bal, A. (Eds.) (2016). Learning from Difference: Comparative Accounts of Multicultural Education. New York: Springer.
• Lo Bianco, J., Orton, J., & Yihong, G. (Eds.). (2009). China and English: Globalisation and the dilemmas of identity. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.
• Lo Bianco, J., & Crozet, C. (Eds.). (2003). Teaching Invisible Culture: Classroom Practice and Theory. Language Australia Publications.
• Lo Bianco, J. (2002). Voices from Phnom Penh. Development & Language: Global Influences & Local Effects. Melbourne: Language Australia Publications.
• Lo Bianco, J. (2000). Games Talk: Language Planning for Sydney 2000. A legacy to the Olympic movement. Melbourne: Language Australia Publications.
• Lo Bianco, J., Liddicoat, A. J., & Crozet, C. (Eds.). (1999). Striving for the Third Place: Intercultural Competence through Language Education. Language Australia.
• Lo Bianco, J., & Freebody, P. (1997). Australian literacies: informing national policy on literacy education. Victoria: Languages Australia.
• Lo Bianco, J. (1987). National Policy on Languages. Australian Government Publishing Service

Awards

• U21 Award for Internationalisation, Universitas 21, 2017
• Excellence in Engagement - Public Value Award, University of Melbourne, 2016
• Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Langues Vivantes (FIPLV) 2015 International Award, International Federation of Language Teacher Associations
• Medal for Outstanding Service to Language Teaching in Australia, Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers’ Associations, Citation: ”In recognition of exceptional and outstanding contributions to language teaching in Australia over an extended period, that have significantly influenced the pattern and quality of language teaching and learning in Australia in beneficial ways.” 7 July 2011
• College Medal, Australian College of Educators, March 2007
• Centenary Medal, Citation: “For service to Australian society and the humanities in literacy planning”, March 2003
• Charles A. Ferguson Fellowship, Centre for Applied Linguistics (CAL), Washington DC, Awarded 2002
• Commendatore nell’Ordine di Merito della Repubblica Italiana, Awarded by the President of the Republic of Italy, “for services to language research and teaching and in recognition of contributions to Australian-Italian cultural relations”, 1999
• Fellow, Australian Academy of the Humanities. Citation: “one the most influential writers in applied linguistics in Australia and internationally”, 1999
• Order of Australia (AM) “for service to the development of language policy and planning in Australia and overseas”; June 1998

Honorary Positions

• Associate; PASCAL International Observatory on Higher Education and Community Development
• Patron, Victorian School of Languages
• Fellow, Aspen Institute Italia
• Trustee, TIRF, International Research Foundation for English Language Education
• Inaugural Fellow, US Heritage Language Alliance
• Immediate Past and Foundation President and advisor, Tsinghua Asian Pacific Forum on Translation and Intercultural Studies, Beijing China