Jargon Begone! List
The following jargon have been provided by the community. If you would like to contribute our jargon list please click on the Add to Jargon Begone! button.
Entry Date | What jargon term annoys you the most? | Why? |
---|---|---|
September 21, 2020 at 10:22 am | AOD |
Not even GPs understand the acronym for Alcohol and other drugs. I have seen websites for community health where "AOD programs" is used rather than "Help with drugs and alcohol" |
September 15, 2020 at 1:29 pm | onboarding |
I know it's a common HR term but it sounds too much like waterboarding - a torture technique - for my liking. Can't we use orientation instead? |
August 20, 2020 at 4:23 pm | neoplasm |
they wont understand, I too don't understand sometimes |
August 13, 2020 at 4:53 pm | Gaming |
"Gaming" refers to playing games, either online or in real life. It is not "gambling" and should not be used as a weasel word to make gambling seem nicer or less threatening. Especially by governments. "Minister for Gaming"? Really? How about "Minister For Exploitation"? |
August 13, 2020 at 10:23 am | BOM |
During the height of last horrific Bush-fire season, a Senior Emergency person came forward and announced that he had just checked the "BOM" site. Anybody hearing that referral to the Weather Report could have assumed he was talking about a bomb attack adding to the already horrible unfolding disaster. I have a long list - DOCS, FACS, HSIE, COAG, DFAT, ACT, ADF, PDHPE, medical positive/negative results. Then there's the bonkers term "NEAR-MISS" . Need I explain? Well - I suffered a genuine "near-miss" recently when a driver "rear-ended" or crashed into my car and managed to "write-it-off". THAT WAS A NEAR-MISS, as far as I'm concerned. I'm still chasing him - the bastard drove off! |
July 23, 2020 at 9:33 pm | On boarding |
This is what you do to introduce new people to your organisation apparently. |
July 23, 2020 at 9:31 pm | Convo |
A conversation is a discussion between rational people |
July 23, 2020 at 9:27 pm | Peeps |
We are people not peeps |
July 22, 2020 at 9:47 am | unprecedented |
Heard so often |
June 3, 2020 at 11:03 am | RDP |
IT specific abbreviation that users may not know or understand. RDP stands for Remote Desktop Protocol and is a Microsoft software to access workplaces remotely. |
May 22, 2020 at 1:16 pm | online |
During the era of Windows 95, doing things "online" was a new thing. Now in the 21st century, most people understand many activities can be done using the internet. An online webinar, or an online form are just the worst examples! |
May 12, 2020 at 2:10 pm | PBS |
I've worked at a pharmacy to 2 years and I still don't know what it means let alone be able to explain it to customers. |
November 8, 2019 at 7:35 pm | Consumers |
Consumers are people. They don't eat services or clinicians! What is wrong with calling them people and preferably by their actual name??? |
November 8, 2019 at 7:31 pm | Carers |
We are people first. We are mothers, sisters, brothers, fathers, and friends. Caring is a bi-product of our relationship with the person. |
October 29, 2019 at 1:01 pm | Touching base |
not direct, vague, should be discuss, meet, talk, telephone call etc. |
October 22, 2019 at 4:30 pm | People with a disability speaking for themselves |
People with a disability or mental illness should be able to speak for themselves. Medical staff, community services, local governments, families and cares should become aware of when it is good to advocate and when it is great to let people use their voices. |
October 21, 2019 at 1:21 pm | Brain Storming |
Brain Storming is a commonly used term use in Australia for meetings. On the 20th of June 2008 City Councils in UK banned the use of this word as "Brain Storming" is a term associated and a symptom of a specific neurological disease. |
October 21, 2019 at 1:17 pm | A bit on the Spectrum |
saying that a child or adult is a bit on the spectrum? People are either autistic or they are not. |
October 21, 2019 at 11:29 am | When jargon keeps changing |
I can't keep up with changes and even if I wanted to tell my clients I don't know what it is. Or what acronyms are? |
October 21, 2019 at 11:19 am | compliant |
It's disempowering for the person you are working with, it removes choice, and is autocratic. Primary and community health workers are not enforcers and have no reason to use this term. |
Entry Date | What jargon term annoys you the most? | Why? |
Why should I pledge?
6 out of 10 of people in Australia have low health literacy.
Many Australians have trouble understanding and using information provided by organisations. They also have trouble navigating complicated systems like healthcare services.
When we use jargon, technical terms or acronyms, it is hard for people with low health literacy to understand and use information.
Pledge and take part in activities at your workplace. Make it easy for people with low health literacy to get better information and outcomes from services they use.
Pledge to Drop the Jargon
- Use plain language in all communication – with other staff and with clients
- Not use acronyms
- Explain medical and other technical terminology
- Check that information has been understood by your clients
- Work with a professional interpreter when your clients have low English proficiency
- Politely point out when your colleagues use jargon