Priority Languages Support Project

First Languages Australia has been commissioned by the Federal Government, Indigenous Languages and Arts program (ILA), to undertake the Priority Languages Support Project.

First Languages Australia calls for expressions of Interest for the Priority Languages Support Project. 

The Priority Languages Support Project (PLSP) aims to support communities in undertaking projects that have one or more of the following aims:

1. Support community language teams to document speakers of the target language.

2. Support community language lessons where these are considered vital to achieving the outcomes of the project and where they are not available through any other activity.

3. Support the development of teaching and learning resources, which are considered crucial to the ongoing revival of the target language, for community use.

If you would like to nominate one or more languages, you can do so by completing the online expression of interest, C.O.B Friday 23rd February 2024

Project examples can be found here.

Project Guidelines

Aim

The Priority Languages Support Project (PLSP) aims to support communities in undertaking projects that have one or more of the following aims:

1. Document speakers.

2. Develop and run regular community language lessons to increase speaker numbers.

3. Create teaching and learning resources that support community language lessons.

Eligible activities include but are not limited to:

1. Record speaker/s knowledge in various formats, including text, audio, and video.

2. Translating and transcribing recorded materials.

3. Research or analysis of the language.

4. Obtaining historical language records. 

5. Creating a database/wordlist.

6. Developing orthography or grammar.

7. Develop community lesson plans.

8. Run regular community lessons, in person or online.

9. Create teaching and learning resources.

10. On Country learning or recording activities

* If you identify that only part of your project is eligible, you can still apply for support the eligible part. You should briefly outline the entire project and then provide details about the part of the project that aligns with this funding. Please keep your responses to the questions concise and don’t include information about the aspects of the project that are irrelevant to this funding.

Community Language Team

This project aims to support community language teams. A community language team is people from the identified community who are directly involved in the planning and implementation of the project. If you are interested in applying but are not a community member, please seek permission from the community to apply on their behalf. The applicant should include a letter of support from the community with the application.

Existing support

Is this language receiving financial support through the Indigenous Languages and Arts Program, a language centre, or another organisation? As the Priority Languages Support Project is funded through the Indigenous Languages and Arts Program, we cannot support a project that targets a language already receiving financial support through the same program. Where there is a language centre, organisation or another community group in the region involved in language activities, we strongly encourage applicants to work together; this may be sharing resources, promoting the project to the broader community, and supporting the work identified in the project plan.   

Service agreement

If your project is successful, the organisation managing the project will be required to enter into a service agreement with First Languages Australia. The Service agreement will comprise of:

1. Cover letter

2. Terms of reference (provided complete)

3. Language plan

4. Project plan

5. Budget

The community language team must complete the documents listed above and return them to the project officer by the due date stated in the offer letter. Please return the documents by the due date to avoid the offer being withdrawn.

Incorporated organisation

First Languages Australia must engage an organisation through a service agreement to undertake this project. The organisation should be able to demonstrate good governance and good financial management. We must refrain from engaging an individual or an unincorporated association to undertake the project.

Funding

Please note that while no funding range is specified, this program's funding support averages between $10,000 and $15,000 per project. The funds must be spent as outlined in the Service Agreement. 

 Eligible items include, but are not limited to:

1. Payments to speakers/teachers.

2. Payments to community language team members.

3. Payments to consultant or specialist.

4. Equipment purchase (under $5000 per item).

5. Venue hire.

6. On Country activities.

7. Printing of language resources

8. Software purchases

Please note: The project officer will approve each item in the budget independently. 

Project duration

Projects will run for a period of up to 12 months.

Reporting 

You must complete and submit a mid-year and end-of-year report to First Languages Australia. The mid-year report will be due six months from your start date. The End-of-year report will be due upon completion of the project or at twelve months, whichever comes first. 

Don't hesitate to get in touch with First Languages Australia directly by email at trinity@firstlanguages.org.au if you have any questions.   

To date, the project has supported one hundred and two projects.

“The emergency documentation gave Audrey a chance to record her language, work out what language there was, and how much was left and start promoting her language. As the last remaining speaker of Lower (Southern) Arrernte, Audrey wanted her knowledge documented while she is still able to.”
Paul Monaghan, Manager, SA Mobile Language Team