Media release: First Languages Australia welcomes funding extension for national partnership
First Languages Australia, the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s announcement of a funding extension for the Languages Policy Partnership (LPP).
The additional resourcing provided until June 2028 will see the continuation of the LPP's vital work. This 3-year extension will enable further First Nations languages policy work under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and languages are strong, supported and flourishing.
The LPP includes representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak organisations, independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community experts, and representatives from Australian, state and territory governments. Since its formation in December 2022, members of the LPP have been working in partnership to achieve Target 16 under the Closing the Gap agreement. Target 16 is focused on ensuring that ‘By 2031, there is a sustained increase in the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken’.
The funding extension recognises the critical importance of working in partnership to achieve Closing the Gap targets.
“We welcome the continued financial support from the Commonwealth Government,” said First Languages Australia CEO and Co-Chair of the LPP, Beau Williams.
“This funding extension will ensure that we can continue the vital role of strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, making a difference in the lives of First Nations people.”
The LPP’s work to date has been highlighted in the Closing the Gap Commonwealth 2024 Annual Report and Commonwealth 2025 Implementation Plan. This has included identifying 7 national priorities, and 3 urgent priorities for strengthening Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. The urgent priorities are languages legislation, mechanisms to create or expand community‑controlled funding pools and grant programs across jurisdictions, and additional support to grow the community‑controlled languages sector. The LPP is also a key partner in FLA’s ongoing work to develop a Sector Strengthening Plan to help build the capability of the First Nations languages sector.
First Languages Australia welcomes the ongoing commitment to strengthening First Nations languages and support for organisations making a difference in the languages sector by the Commonwealth Government.
To arrange an interview, please email: contact@firstlanguages.org.au
About First Languages Australia:
First Languages Australia (FLA) is the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. FLA supports a network of language centres, community programs and industry partners across the nation. The not-for-profit organisation connects language communities to share knowledge, experiences, resources and skills.
FLA takes a leading role in targeting issues that impact First Nations languages, sharing critical communication from language communities with government and key non-government agencies to bring about change.
About the Languages Policy Partnership:
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 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 LPP works to develop a national, coordinated approach to achieving Target 16. This includes working in partnership, centring the community-controlled sector and changing how governments work, as well as sharing data and information to make important decisions.
