The Morrison Government will provide more than $1 million to seven organisations dedicated to preserving and promoting Indigenous languages through the Indigenous Languages and Arts (ILA) program.
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the funding will help deliver new projects that have a focus on digital approaches to record and share Indigenous languages.
"Australia has more than 250 Indigenous languages. In some cases the number of speakers is small and declining; in other cases the language is strong and used by many communities."
"It is important that we work to both capture digital records of languages which may not continue to be spoken in the future - as well as maximise the prospects for other languages to continue to be spoken," Minister Fletcher said.
"This approach harnesses the power of these tools to preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and culture."
The funded projects include:
- $207,000 for First Languages Australia to work with the Department of Education on career development programs for Indigenous language workers
- $200,000 for the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education to provide linguistic expertise, manage the recording of language and develop resources in the Mowanjum Community of Western Australia
- $100,000 for the Kombumerri Aboriginal Corporation for Culture to trial a selection of mixed reality technologies and digital platforms to enhance the teaching and learning of the Yugambeh language by community, including in schools
- $99,995 for the Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Aboriginal Corporation to document and record the Yirritja songlines, capturing the Yolnu women's stories and kinship structures for intergenerational transmission.
"This year is the International Year of Indigenous Languages and the Australian Government is proud to continue supporting vital language projects such as these," Minister Fletcher said.
Each year the Government provides funding through the ILA program to support eligible organisations to deliver arts and language projects through an open grant round and direct offer grants. For more information about the program and to view the full list of recipients visit: www.arts.gov.au/ILA
