Welcome to the Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre (The Languages Centre)

As part of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre plays a key role in the preservation and revival of Aboriginal languages in the state.

NSW Government revitalises Aboriginal languages

Applications are being sought by the NSW Government from Aboriginal community organisations to revitalise and teach Aboriginal languages.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Paul Lynch said this year the NSW Government has allocated $100,000 for a ‘rolling’ small grants program (up to $5,000 per project) and $200,000 for larger one-off grants (up to $25,000).  Applications for the larger grants close on 11 June 2010.

The Minister also announced a $100,000 partnership with the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc to hold a state-wide Aboriginal languages forum and a number of regional workshops.  The forum will showcase the best Aboriginal community language activities and discuss current issues with Aboriginal language revitalisation and education.

Over the past five years, the NSW Government has provided $1.02 million to support 60 Aboriginal language projects across NSW.

“New South Wales has a proud record of recording and teaching Aboriginal languages,” Mr Lynch said. “Ours was the first government in Australia to adopt a formal Aboriginal language policy,” he said.

“For more than 20 years, Aboriginal people have made it clear that they want their languages back as a vital part of their culture, identity and pride,” Mr Lynch said.

“For Aboriginal people, language is a direct link to their identity, land and country and reflects their unique cultural concepts, spirituality and way of looking at the world,” he said.

Before the arrival of Europeans, at least 70 Aboriginal languages and dialects were spoken in the area now called New South Wales. Now there are only about 20 distinct Aboriginal languages used.

“Through our Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre, we are determined to support the hard work Aboriginal people are doing to revitalise and preserve community languages,” Mr Lynch said.

Further details about the Community Language Assistance Program, or to obtain an application form are available at www.alrrc.nsw.gov.au or by calling 9219 0700

“Language is our Soul”
Aunty Rose Fernando

“Language is very important to us, it is our connection to our ancestors and for those of us who still use our language can connect with the ancestors of the past. We belong to the land without the land we are nothing. Our life blood comes from the land and what is of the land. Language holds secrets to the connection of the land”.
Aunt Phyllis Darcy, Awabakal Descendant

“Aboriginal languages were here before we came, they are here now and they’ll be here long after we’ve gone”.
Brother John Wright, Principal St Joseph’s Primary School, Walgett

“Language goes to the very core of one’s identity and Aboriginal languages contain, embedded in them, much of the culture, social values and world view of its speakers”.
Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, 1992