First Languages Australia calls for greater commitment across Government
In December, First Languages Australia was assisted by the Indigenous Languages and Arts team within the Department of Communications and the Arts, to facilitate a meeting of key government departments in Canberra. The purpose of the meeting was to highlight the responsibilities of all strands of government to support languages within their portfolios.
The gathering was attended by representatives from the Departments of Education and Training, Environment and Energy, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Finance, Health, Jobs and Small Business, Social Services, Prime Minister and Cabinet, IP Australia and Communications and the Arts.
Other departments were also informed of the discussions on the day. A number of new collaborations have been seeded since the meeting which will see a considerable growth in opportunities to support languages across these sectors. We are excited to be able to share these new initiatives with you.
Initiative 1: Education funding for language teachers
The Minister for Education has allocated $565,000 over three years for First Languages Australia to research and identify options for supporting Indigenous language teachers’ professional development and capability, including the development of new resources. This funding will support recommendations that relate to training and resource development, as outlined in FLA’s National Indigenous Languages Teaching and Employment Strategy – Nintiringanyi.
Initiative 2: ILA supports Career Development
The Indigenous Languages and Arts program has also approved funding in 2019/2020 for a strategic project in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training addressing career development for Indigenous language workers.
The ILA program is funding First Languages Australia to develop a culturally appropriate strategy and provide practical support to increase career development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language workers. This will cover a wide spectrum in community from volunteers working in Indigenous Language Centres; to community language teachers, community linguists, teachers in the school classroom and university qualified linguists.
Initiative 3: Languages and science
First Languages Australia has formed a partnership with Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre to promote two amazing projects in celebration of the International Year of Indigenous Languages.
The “Science in First Languages” project invites you to create a short video that tells a story about science, technology, engineering or maths in your language. Working in collaboration with First Languages Australia, the ABC and AIATSIS, Questacon will host the videos online and highlight them during National Science Week.
The Moon exhibit at Questacon
Questacon’s “Moon Project” will see the centre’s seven metre moon replica surrounded by its name in first languages from around Australia. The exhibition is visited by over 500,000 people per year.
Please contact us to add your moon words to the collection.
We are also working with CSIRO on the Atlas of Living Australia and with the Permanent Committee on Place Names, toward sustainable community collaborations that gather appropriate language data and ensure community control.
The aim of these partnerships is to highlight the scientific knowledge held within Australia's hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Please let us know if you would like to be involved.
Initiative 4: Taking our languages to the world
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is collaborating with First Languages Australia to arrange visits by first language advocates to Australian Consulates around the world. The project will highlight the increasing recognition being given to languages in this country, while taking the promotion to an international audience. Throughout the next year, the selected speakers and performers will develop international partnerships to encourage support for their ongoing work, while exploring opportunities for cultural exchange with the host cities.
Initiative 5: Advocating to Local Governments
In June, First Languages Australia was invited to present to the Australian Local Governments Association National Assembly. Committee Members Geoff Anderson, Melinda Holden and Karina Lester, shared insights into ways that local governments can respect and promote first languages in their areas, and were able to present a set of protocols for councils to follow in working with communities. The audience of over 900 Mayors and Councillors received the presentation enthusiastically with many of them visiting the First Languages Australia display booth over the following days. Please contact us if you would like access to brochures, posters or guidelines to pass on to your local government. We would also love to hear of great initiatives happening with your local council.
Click image to watch the short video we prepared for the presentation.
