LPP meets in Garramilla/Darwin

The tenth meeting of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Policy Partnership (LPP) took place in Garramilla on 21 and 22 May 2025.

The gathering began with a Welcome to Country by Mary Williams from the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation. Joe Raymond and Les Huddleston followed with a performance.

LPP Co-Chairs shared updates on administration and key work from the Funding Priorities Working Group and the Languages Sector Strengthening Plan Working Group. The group endorsed the minutes from the ninth meeting.

Members heard updates on LPP commissioning projects, including work on a

·       National Interpreting and Translating Framework

·       National Collections Framework and

·       Languages Economic Investment Framework.

The Commonwealth Office of the Arts presented on Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property legislation. Members highlighted the importance of protecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages through this legislation.

The meeting also included a brief update on a developing research project between First Languages Australia and SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children. This work will help to inform the LPP and the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership. The partnerships recognised the value of working together to meet shared goals and Closing the Gap targets.

Members took part in a workshop on the LPP evaluation, focusing on culturally strong approaches and alignment with Closing the Gap priority reforms.

One the second day, the group reviewed the draft Data Policy Position. The position is led by First Nations members and sets out how success in the sector should be measured. Members will now seek feedback before endorsing.

The group received updates on data developments under Closing the Gap and discussed community consultations being run by AIATSIS as part of the co-design stage for the Fourth National Indigenous Languages Survey (NILS). In the afternoon, members discussed possible recommendations to the Joint Council.

The meeting wrapped up with plans for the next LPP meeting, scheduled for 10 and 11 September 2025 in Sydney.