On the 19th of October 2017, NSW became the first state in Australia to pass legislation through its Parliament recognising the importance of Aboriginal languages.

First Languages Australia was thrilled to have the Managing Director of the ABC Michelle Guthrie, the Director of Regional Fiona Reynolds, Queensland State Manager Cathie Schnitzerling and Partnerships Lead Bronwyn Purvis attend the Cairns National Languages Forum in October, to meet with the First Languages Committee and our network members.

This year, more than 1,400 students took part in our Marrin Gamu Competition with ABC Splash.

In August, a small group of language workers and researchers gathered in Melbourne to explore ways of documenting evidence of the positive associations between first language activities and wellbeing.

Increased access to language materials, collaboration and promotion of language projects are the focus of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which was signed by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and First Languages Australia in May.

First Languages Australia commends the leadership shown by New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello in regard to Aboriginal languages, through his implementation of the Ochre Plan.

First Languages Australia members met in Canberra recently with staff from the Ministry for the Arts in the Department of the Attorney General to discuss development of future strategies for languages support.

Looking to establish a mentoring role with young community members showing a passion for languages, First Languages Australia and the Ministry for the Arts invited a group of youth delegates from around Australia to meet and work with the more experienced language advocates in Canberra.

Congratulations go out to three members of the First Languages Australia network for awards received recently.

Please visit our facebook page and keep up with news from around the country and overseas.