The NSW Aboriginal Languages Festival 2025, a vibrant celebration of NSW Aboriginal languages and community-led revitalisation, will kick off NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2025 this Sunday, 19 October.
Led by the NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust, NSW Aboriginal Languages Week (19-26 October) is an annual, state-wide celebration of the strength, resilience and critical importance of Aboriginal languages, which marks the passing of the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017.
Themed 'Let our Voices Fly', this year's week highlights the innovative and impactful ways Aboriginal languages are being revitalised and shared across generations through culture, education, and community leadership.
Sunday's free, family-friendly festival on Gadigal country at Carriageworks, Redfern will include an array of music and dance performances, cultural experiences, celebrations of community pride, interactive children's workshops and food and market stalls showcasing Aboriginal organisations and artisans.
Popular Aboriginal hip-hop artist Kobie Dee will headline the music program. Renowned 'Koori King of Country Music' Uncle Roger Knox and singer Loren Ryan will bring together voices and messages from different generations, paying tribute to the reclamation and revitalisation of Aboriginal languages in NSW.
NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2025 Ambassadors, NRL star Cody Walker and broadcast journalist Brooke Boney will also be participating in the festival, which runs from 10am to 3pm.
Across NSW, language is being revitalised through place-based programs delivered by language practitioners and community organisations, such as Moogahlin Performing Arts who were successful under the Aboriginal Languages Growth Funding Program for revitalisation to deliver a Women's Business Language Ngurra program in 2025-2027.
NSW Aboriginal Languages Week will be celebrated by communities across NSW, with a diverse range of community-held Language events including hands-on language lessons, art exhibitions, concerts and storytelling.
The Aboriginal Languages Trust has also launched new video content sharing the voices, perspectives and knowledge of language practitioners, and a mini-documentary series following the NSW Languages Week Ambassadors Cody and Brooke returning home to learn Language on country; all available on the Trust's YouTube channel.
For more information about the Festival and Languages Week, visit https://www.alt.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/nsw-aboriginal-languages-week
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"Language is a living link to identity, country and culture. This festival brings people together from across NSW to celebrate the incredible and innovative work being done by Communities to preserve and revitalise Aboriginal languages. It's a powerful act of cultural strength.
"The NSW Government is proud to be supporting the Languages Week Grants Program 2025, which awarded grant funding across 26 eligible Aboriginal community organisations for events and activities that celebrate community-led language revitalisation efforts. These events not only celebrate, but promote participation in languages learning, particularly for younger generations and connect community to language education and employment opportunities."
NSW Aboriginal Languages Trust Chair Catherine Trindall said:
"Language is core to our identity and connection to country. Every word spoken in language represents our cultural survival and the determination of our people to ensure our languages were kept alive and strong.
"The NSW Aboriginal Languages Festival is about community and celebrating what has been passed down, and the momentum behind language revitalisation today. I encourage everyone to attend this family-friendly event, celebrating and honouring the state's first languages though song, dance and connection."
2025 NSW Aboriginal Languages Week Ambassador and NRL star Cody Walker said:
"I feel deeply honoured to attend the Festival and join in this celebration of NSW Aboriginal Languages, it's about making our Languages heard loud and proud. I'm excited to share the importance of keeping our Languages strong for future generations.
"This experience of being an Ambassador has given me the chance to explore my own Language journey on Country and inspired me to build a future where me and my kids can speak Language fluently. Our Languages carry the strength, identity and stories of our People and it's powerful to see them being celebrated at the Festival and being revitalised across Communities."
2025 NSW Aboriginal Languages Week Ambassador and journalist Brooke Boney said:
"Being an Ambassador and learning Language on Country has been a dream come true, despite past attempts to erase Aboriginal Languages, it has survived, and now we have the privilege and responsibility to keep it alive for future generations.
"It's truly special to be part of the NSW Aboriginal Languages Festival, an event like this brings Language and Culture into the spotlight and encourages young people to Let Our Voices Fly. This is something that we can make sure continues as a thread through our history."
