First Nations Languages Education Program

The First Nations Languages Education Program will support community language learning activities that increase the numbers of language speakers and educators. The Australian Government Department of Education has partnered with First Languages Australia to design a national grant program sufficiently flexible to meet local language community needs.

Grants will be available for projects that:
·     deliver intensive community language learning activities,
·     support community language learners to develop teaching skills, and
·     build or extend community-led partnerships toward teaching languages in schools.

Expressions of Interest have now closed. Through the coming months, First Languages Australia will be working with language communities to develop project plans that meet the above criteria.

Program Update- December 2024

The program reached applicant capacity in August 2024. Assessment and contracting of the grants are ongoing by the Department of Education and we look forward to seeing project commence delivery in early 2025. Download the full program update here.

Professional Development

The First Nations Languages Education program team are arranging monthly professional development webinars on topics relevant to First Nations language educators and language learning. The sessions are open to all to attend and you can access recordings of these sessions via our Vimeo page.

These sessions will continue to run throughout the FNLE program and we welcome feedback on topics that may be useful. You can keep up to date with the topics either by following us on Facebook or by emailing our team to be added to our mailing list.

Resources

First Languages Australia works with educators to develop plans and produce resources that support the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities who wish to share their languages through schools, early learning centres and beyond.

Our Resources and Projects for Educators page contains resources that may be useful to Indigenous language teachers, educators, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language teaching teams and schools looking to work with their local language custodians to share their languages through school and early learning programs.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators and language advisory groups working with schools may also find our projects and resources for families and communities useful.

External resources

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)

Building on ICIP considerations noted in Queensland’s Principals’ Guide to teaching an Aboriginal language or Torres Strait Islander language (2018), the Queensland Department of Education has worked with Terry Janke and Company to publish an Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Protocol for the teaching of Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages (2022). The protocols include a package of template agreements designed to ensure clarity between collaborating schools and language custodians. The resources are relevant for use and adaption nationally.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property Protocol for the teaching of Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages (education.qld.gov.au)

Community School Agreements

Templates have been provided by the Queensland and Northern Territory Education Departments which can be adapted nationally. All of the programs in the FNLE are expected to have an agreement between the community and the school that will document the commitments of each party.

Queensland Department of Education

The above link includes access to a Template Statement of Intent and Template Terms of Reference.

Northern Territory Department of Education Template 1 Stakeholder Engagement Plan Template 2 Consultation Feedback Register Template 3 ILC Committee Terms of Reference

The above link includes access to a Template 4 ILC Program Agreement.

Industrial Guidelines

The Queensland Independent Education Union has developed industrial guidelines to support the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language educators. These are relevant nationally and are available here.

Artwork:

Kulgan (following new pathways)
By Faith Baisden