Aboriginal communities across NSW are being encouraged to celebrate and showcase and their unique languages this October during the first ever Aboriginal Languages Week.
Aboriginal Languages Week will take place annually to coincide with the passing of Aboriginal Languages legislation into law on 24 October 2017. Events and activities will be supported by a new grants program of $250,000 administered by the Aboriginal Languages Trust.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said NSW is leading the way in recognising the importance of Aboriginal languages through legislation and providing significant funding for their revitalisation.
"Aboriginal Communities work tirelessly to keep their Languages alive, and the NSW Government is proud to support them in their endeavours," Minister Harris said.
"Today I visited the La Perouse Aboriginal Community who shared with me the history of their language reclamation. I was humbled to hear the children in the Gujaga Pre-School and La Perouse Public School learning and speaking Dharawal and how happy and excited they were.
"That joy will be continued with Gujaga Foundation recently securing a NSW Government grant to continue this teaching of the Dharawal language to the next generations.
"It is these stories of hope and commitment we want to celebrate with these Aboriginal Languages Week grants and I encourage community organisations to apply."
Grants of up to $5000 are available for eligible groups to deliver languages events and activities between 22 October and 29 October 2023. The grants, administered by the Aboriginal Languages Trust are now open and close on 23 August 2023.
In addition to funding local community-based activities throughout the week, the trust will be hosting its own events, including a free-to-the public NSW Aboriginal Languages Week Festival on the Saturday 21 October in Sydney.
This new grant round comes close on the heels of an announcement by the minister and trust of $3.9 million in grants going to Aboriginal Community organisations and groups to support languages revitalisation in 2022-23.
The Gujaga Foundation Limited received a grant of $60,000 to continue to deliver training to upskill Aboriginal community members to be employed as Dharawal Language and Culture tutors and teach in schools and learning centres, like the Gujaga Pre-School, across the cultural boundary area.
More information on grants and activities for Aboriginal Languages Week can be found on the Aboriginal Languages Trust website.
