Queensland launches State Languages Policy
First Languages Australia and the Queensland Indigenous Languages Advisory Committee were involved in an extensive consultation process for the development of the Many Voices, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Policy.
Priority Languages Support Project continues its reach
The Priority Languages Support Project helps communities record their speakers and ensure the languages captured are archived for future generations.
Yakilla: Training Tracks
Yakilla is the report from the first stage of a project working to increase career development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language workers.
2019-2020 Indigenous Languages International Speaker Series
The languages spoken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia are amongst the oldest surviving languages on the planet, and a source of great pride to the people who are now their custodians.
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.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Languages Project and First Languages Australia – Indigenous Language Speaker Series
Throughout the International Year of Indigenous Languages, First Languages Australia worked with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to send language artists and advocates to twelve international posts.
Participate in a national survey of languages teachers
Teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are encouraged to participate in a survey about their experiences of language teaching.
National Indigenous Languages Education Strategy Project
Over the next two years, First Languages Australia will be working with language centres and education partners on the Commonwealth funded project to support the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language teachers and the teaching of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
Language classes at a distance
With the arrival of COVID-19 in Australia, First Languages Australia and the Pertame Language Project invited people to participate in a video conference to connect, hear and learn from each other about creative ways to continue language teaching through digital platforms.
Include your details in a languages skills registry
As part of our ongoing work in the area of training and career development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in language programs, we are interested in creating a registry of people currently engaged in this work.
Employment awards, payrates and terms of employment addressed
First Languages Australia is working with Michelle Gabauer of Effective HR to help establish correct pay rates, awards and role descriptions for language centre staff.
Arts Law partnership to support language centres
Arts Law and First Languages Australia have joined forces to give language centres and programs access to Arts Law's Artists in The Black service free of charge during 2020–21.
SBS National Languages Competition
We were pleased to partner with SBS in the fourth SBS National Languages Competition, which aims to inspire all Australians to embrace language learning and retention.
What is involved? Collaborating with Aboriginal communities to offer a language curriculum
Michael Jarrett, Gumbaynggirr teacher and Chairperson of Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Cooperative, and Carolyn Barker, of First Languages Australia, gave the opening keynote address "What is involved?
Two-way Linguistics: Working together for Indigenous Languages
First Languages Australia Committee Member and Central Queensland language worker, Melinda Holden, joined interpreter and early childhood teacher Josie Lardy, linguist Ilana Mushin, and linguist Felicity Meakins and musician Eleanor Dixon from the Mudburra Language Project, at the Australian Society of Linguistics Conference for a panel conversation about best practice in the ways academic linguists and community-based language workers and linguists are working together.
Young Champions Profiled
Have you been following our Young Champions profiles commissioned by ABC Life? Here are the latest:
Living Language: Country, Culture and Community
The team at the NSW Library have produced an exceptional exhibition celebrating the resilience of Aboriginal languages and language workers across NSW.
Launch of ABC ELEVATE Reconciliation Action Plan
We are very pleased to have been a partner in the work that has seen the ABC launch its first ELEVATE Reconciliation Action Plan.
Ngarrangarra gum midling: First Languages Australia and Language Centres meeting
Our committee and staff used the opportunity of having many language program teams together in Darwin for PULiiMA, to host a meeting for members of the national network.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, International Speaker Series
Since June we have been working with DFAT to support language advocates and artists to visit a range of Australian consulates around the world. Here are some of the stories from this shared project.