The Languages Policy Partnership (LPP) was created under the National Agreement for Closing the Gap to develop a joined-up approach to progressing and achieving Target 16. The LPP includes leaders from the Coalition of Peaks, independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language experts, and high-level representatives from every Australian, state and territory government.

“We see these no-good things happened to us, to our country, our culture, and our language. Some people now have little language, and some still have much. We have come together to make change, to make our languages strong again, to make our people and culture strong again – to stand proud with our languages.” - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, Languages Policy Partnership

LPP members together at their second meeting in June 2023.

The partnership commitment is outlined in the Languages Policy Partnership Agreement to Implement. The Agreement sets out the purpose, objectives, scope, governance arrangements, and the roles and responsibilities of the LPP.

The Australian Government has committed $9.7 million over three years to establish the partnership and its supporting operational and delivery functions. As per the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the LPP will undertake evaluation and will be reviewed after three years. 

The Languages Policy Partnership and Target 16  

The LPP welcomes the introduction of Target 16 to Closing the Gap. This target is strengths-based and 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 working to develop a national and coordinated approach to achieving Target 16. This includes working in partnership, centring the community-controlled sector, changing how governments work, and sharing the right data and information to make important decisions. The LPP will also work according to annual work plans and a three-year strategic plan.

Have your say!

The National Languages Policy Partnership has identified seven national priority areas to achieve Target 16 of Closing the Gap, captured on the LPP Priorities on a Page. We invite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide their thoughts on the priority areas. To do so, please visit the survey here. You may also provide your thoughts on video, by recording and emailing the video to LanguagesPolicyPartnership@firstlanguages.org.au.

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 11,12, Cairns

  • September 3,4, Adelaide

  • December 11,12, Brisbane

Read the meeting summary 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 
Kathrin Jenson, Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts
Mellissa Gray, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmanian Government 
Dorrelle Anderson, Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet, Northern Territory Government 
Bronwyn Milera, Department of Education, South Australian Government 
Brendan Moyle, Executive Branch Manager of the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, ACT Government
Angela Singh, 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