Priority Languages Support Project

First Languages Australia has been commissioned by the Federal Government, Indigenous Languages and Arts program (ILA), to undertake the Priority Languages Support Project.

Please note the project guidelines have been updated to ensure that the funds are targeting communities where there are no current language activities. 

The Priority Languages Support Project (PLSP) provides communities with a small grant to initiate language activities.  PLSP will support communities which do not currently receive funding for their language programs or activities, and wish to: 

1. Initiate community lessons 

2. Document speakers of the target language.  

First Languages Australia is calling for Expressions of Interest for the Priority Languages Support Project. 

Expressions of Interest will open 3 November 2025 and close 19 December 2026. 

If you would like to nominate one or more languages, you can do so by completing this online expression of interest. 

Please email Project manager Ebony Eulo if you have any questions or need assistance: plsp@firstlanguages.org.au or 02 4940 9141.

Budget template can be found here.

Project examples can be found here.

An offline expression of interest can be found here. 

Project Guidelines

Aim

The Priority Languages Support Project (PLSP) aims to support communities to: 

1. Initiate community lessons 

1. Document speakers of the target language. 

Eligible activities include but are not limited to: 

• Run regular community lessons, in person or online. 

• Develop community lesson plans, and teaching and learning resources.  

• Record speaker/s knowledge in various formats, including text, audio, and video.  

• On Country learning or recording activities. 

• Translating and transcribing recorded materials, research and analysis of the language.  

• Access historical language records.  

• Creating a database/wordlist.  

• Developing orthography or documenting grammar.  

* If you identify that only part of your project is eligible, you can still apply for support for the  eligible part. You should briefly outline the entire project and then provide details about the part of the project that aligns with this funding. Please keep your responses to the questions concise and don’t include information about the aspects of the project that are irrelevant to this funding. 

Community Language Team 

This project aims to support community language teams. A community language team is people from the identified community who are directly involved in the planning and implementation of the project. 

Existing support 

The Priority Languages Support Project is intended to support community language teams to get started on their language journey or where there has been little or no activity in recent years. Where a language is receiving financial support from the government, a language centre, a university, or another organisation, it may not be prioritised for support through this project.  

If you wish to discuss your situation prior to submitting your EOI, please contact the PLSP team via email at plsp@firstlanguages.org.au   

Service agreement 

If your project is successful, the organisation managing the project will be required to enter into a service agreement with First Languages Australia. The Service agreement will comprise of: 

• FLA Welcome letter 

• Terms of reference (provided complete) 

• Project plan 

• Budget 

The community language team must complete the documents listed above and return them to First Languages Australia by the due date stated in the letter of offer. Please return the documents by the due date to avoid the offer being withdrawn. 

Incorporated organisation 

First Languages Australia must engage an incorporated organisation through a service agreement to undertake this project. The organisation should be able to demonstrate good governance and good financial management.  

Funding 

Please note that while no funding range is specified, this program's funding support averages between $10,000 and $25,000 per project. The funds must be spent as outlined in the Service Agreement.  

Eligible items include, but are not limited to: 

• Payments to speakers/teachers 

• Payments to community language team members 

• Payments to consultant or specialist 

• Equipment purchase (under $5000 per item) 

• Venue hire 

• On Country activities 

• Printing of language resources 

• Software purchases 

Please note:  budget items will be considered independently .  

Project duration 

Prioritised projects will run for up to twelve months.  

Reporting  

You must complete and submit a mid-year and end-of-year report to First Languages Australia. The mid-year report will be due six months from your start date. The end-of-year report includes a written report and a financial report that will be due upon completion of the project or at twelve months, whichever comes first. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ebony Eulo, plsp@firstlanguages.org.au or 02 4940 9141.