The National Languages Policy Partnership

The Languages Policy Partnership (LPP) is a national policy group dedicated to the strengthening of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and language communities. The partnership was formed under the National Agreement for Closing the Gap, with the objective of forming a joined-up approach to informing the progress and achievement of Target 16.

The LPP is made up of leaders from the Coalition of Peaks, national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language experts, and high-level representatives from every Australian, state and territory government. It is the first languages partnership group of its scale and kind.

“This is the first time this national spotlight is on our languages. We've waited for too long for this to happen, now we can only look forward.” 
- Daryn McKenny (LPP Member)

LPP members at the first LPP meeting, March 20-21 in nipaluna/ Hobart. 

The partnership is underpinned by the Languages Policy Partnership Agreement to Implement, which was formally endorsed at the second LPP meeting in June 2023. The Agreement sets out the scope and purpose of the partnership as well as the roles and responsibilities of members.  

The Australian Government has committed $9.7 million over three years to establish the partnership, including resources to establish the groups’ co-secretariat within First Languages Australia and the Office of the Arts. As per the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the LPP will be reviewed after three years. 

The Languages Policy Partnership and Target 16  

The LPP welcomes the addition of Target 16 to the Closing the Gap framework. This target is dedicated to ensuring that ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and languages are strong, supported and flourishing’; and more specifically, that ‘by 2031, there is a sustained increase in number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.’
The LPP is the national policy group tasked with informing and driving the achievement of Outcome and Target 16. The LPP Agreement to Implement steps out its commitment and scope, including:

  • establishing a joined-up approach between all governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives  

  • harnessing and actioning priority reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap 

  • considering shared data and information and identifying opportunities to work more effectively across governments, Coalition of Peaks and community organisations 

  • identifying national strategies and specific measures to affect and achieve target 16, including advocating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led initiatives and outcomes 

  • enabling First Nations representatives, communities and organisations to negotiate and implement agreements with governments to support Closing the Gap 

  • developing annual workplans and a three-year strategic plan

Have your say!

The National Languages Policy Partnership invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to have their say on the LPP’s identified national priority areas to achieve Target 16 of Closing the Gap. To find out about the priorities and have your say, see the LPP Priorities on a Page and the survey links within.

LPP members at the first LPP meeting, nipaluna/ Hobart 21-22 March 2023

Meetings of the Languages Policy Partnership  
The LPP meets four times a year. 2024 meetings are scheduled for:

  • March 12,13, Melbourne

  • June 12,13, Cairns

  • September 3,4, Adelaide

  • November 26 (online)

Read the previous meeting summaries/ joint communiques - summary reports are made available after each LPP meeting. You can find the reports here:  

The importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and supporting communities  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are integral to communities, cultures and homelands. Languages are important to the strength and success of communities. This partnership firmly believes in and advocates for the critical role language and culture plays in the ongoing and future health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

The LPP seeks to establish a true partnership approach with truth-telling, equal representation and shared decision-making fundamental to the National Agreement for Closing the Gap. The expertise of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives ensures that the lived experiences of communities is brought in, understood and at the heart of learning and language policy development and decision-making. 

LPP membership  

The Languages Policy Partnership has members representing all Australian, state and territory Governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.  

Coalition of Peaks organisation representatives: 
Karina Lester, Mobile Languages Unit 
Vicki Couzens, Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages 
Heather Sculthorpe, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre 
Beau Williams, First Languages Australia 
Karen Paterson, First Nations Media Association

Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts: 
Patsy Ngalu Bedford (Bunuba) 
Daryn McKenny (Gamilaraay and Wiradjuri) 
Leitha Assan (Badhulaig) 
Samantha Armstrong (Pertame) 
Gulwanyang Moran (Birrbay and Dhanggati)  

Government members: 
Stephen Arnott, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts, Commonwealth Government 
Clare McHugh, Aboriginal Languages Trust, New South Wales Government 
Erin Gauntlett, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Western Australian Government 
Kathy Parton, Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Queensland Government 
Jodee Wilson, Department of Education, Children and Young People, Tasmanian Government 
Dorelle Anderson, Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet, Northern Territory Government 
Deonne Smith, Department of Education, South Australian Government 
Brendan Moyle, Executive Branch Manager of the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, ACT Government
Steven Fraser, Deputy Secretary, Department of Education, Victorian Government.

The LPP is co-chaired by the CEO of First Languages Australia as the national peak organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, and the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts.

For enquiries about the Languages Policy Partnership contact our secretariat team at LPP@firstlanguages.org.au