ABC and First Languages Australia collaborations grow

First Languages Australia continues to work with ABC producers providing advice on how to appropriately embed languages in their projects. We are also managing a number of major projects which see language speakers paid for the advice and content they produce for the ABC. Below is an update on some of our current major projects.

This Place

While our This Place collaboration with the ABC is officially closed, producers are continuing to work with community members to publish stories around important places in their regions. The seventy films can be watched on iView, or on the ABC Indigenous YouTube channel.

In total, our This Place films have been watched over 4.2 million times on Facebook, and were often even stronger on Instagram. We are working with the ABC to ensure they continue to reach new audiences in the future.

Bundjalung-Arakwal woman Delta Kay takes us to Currenba.

Wajarri elder Charlie Snowball shares a story of Burringurrah.

Barkindji man Michael Whyman visits Mutawintji.

Elder Johnny Williams introduces us to Gununa.

Language lessons for ABC staff

In a commitment to promote correct pronunciation of language names, greetings and place names by broadcasters, this year the ABC is paying for introductory language lessons in sixty languages. The lessons are beginning with the language of the land from which each station broadcasts.

The project was launched during Reconciliation Week, with a first lesson presented in each state and territory. Conducted by Zoom while the stations are closed to the public, these initial lessons were recorded for ongoing use by ABC staff over the next two years. They have been well received, with attendees keen for more.

If you would like to give a lesson in your language please contact us for further details.

ABC Kids animation

In each of the eight weeks leading up to NAIDOC in November, ABC Kids, ABC Me TV and ABC Kids Listen will be launching a twenty second animated greeting lesson, shared by a young language speaker. Eight promos will be made in the first instance, with the hope that the ABC will find funds to continue the project and grow the collection for use throughout coming years.