- More than $2.3 million invested in 2025-26 Community Languages Program
- Includes 67 community language schools teaching 43 languages
- Supported by the Cook Labor Government through the Office of Multicultural Interests
The Cook Labor Government's investment in the 2025-26 Community Languages Program (CLP) will support the teaching of dozens of languages across the State with three, spoken in Kazakhstan and South Sudan, to be taught by schools for the first time.
Administered by the Office of Multicultural Interests, the program provides support to eligible not-for-profit community associations to teach languages other than English for students from kindergarten to year 12 out of school hours.
A record $1,562,100 in funding will support 67 schools teaching 43 languages, the highest participation to date of community language schools and languages being taught.
Newly established and funded schools include the South Sudan Community Association of Western Australia, teaching 195 students in five languages across five locations, and the Central Asian Association through the Turan Weekend School, which teaches Kazakh and Uzbek.
Delivered by the Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre, the Italian In-School Insertion program received $450,000 to support the teaching of Italian language programs in primary schools from kindergarten to year 6.
The program supports 39 primary schoolsincludingeight regional schools across South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Mid West, and Wheatbelt regions.
A further $305,000 has been allocated to provide professional support for community language teachers and administrators through Community Languages WA Inc.
In total, CLP funding will support more than 19,000 school-aged students to learn a community language in 2026.
For more information about the CLP, go to the Office of Multicultural Interests' website .
As stated by Multicultural Interests Minister Dr Tony Buti:
"The Cook Labor Government's strong investment into the 2025-26 Community Languages Program is a win in any language.
"I am proud to support community language schools, which are a vital way of passing on a love of language, tradition, and heritage to the next generation, who play a vital role in ensuring culturally and linguistically diverse communities remain strong and vibrant into the future.
"An integral part of the Community Languages Program is the contributions of the many volunteer community language teachers, whose commitment, efforts, and passion are at the heart of its success."
