NSW Aboriginal Languages Policy

Students in Government and non-Government schools will be able to study an Aboriginal language from Kindergarten to Year 10 under new changes to the NSW curriculum.

The then Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Dr Andrew Refshauge, launched the NSW Aboriginal Languages Policy which enables students to study an Aboriginal language from the beginning of school through to their School Certificate.

The package - which is Australia's first comprehensive Indigenous language policy - includes initiatives to teach and revive the State's 70 Aboriginal languages.

Under the policy:

A new Kindergarten to Year 10 syllabus will be introduced from the beginning of 2005 - enabling students in the State to study an Aboriginal language through to Year 10. The changes mean students will be better placed to study an Aboriginal language for their HSC;

$1.019 million has already been spent to establish the NSW Aboriginal Languages Research & Resource Centre (opened in March 2003) - which is helping to preserve the State's 70 Aboriginal languages. The centre gives technical support to Aboriginal communities in reviving, maintaining and teaching languages;

An Aboriginal languages database will be available to schools and communities from 2007;

New guidelines are provided to help Aboriginal communities revive and teach their local language; and Aboriginal communities will work closely with schools in the development and delivery of the new language curriculum.

Download more info:
NSW Aboriginal Languages Policy (pdf File) [ Get a player/reader for this file here ]