Schools
NSW Aboriginal Languages in Schools
The NSW Board of Studies currently has a focus on Aboriginal language education in Stages 4-5 (years 7-10). Unfortunately there are no schools in NSW with an evaluated program that would meet the mandatory 100-hour requirements in an Aboriginal Language.
This year, the Board is working with four schools in four languages to act as models for other schools to apply a language program. According to the Board, meeting requirements in Stages 4-5 is much more demanding than Stages 1-3 (Primary school).
Officers at the Board are proposing a project to investigate the development of a Stage 6 (Higher School Certificate) syllabus for Aboriginal languages. After the Board’s approval, the investigation will be facilitated by representations from within government and Aboriginal community groups, as part of a broader overview of Aboriginal Education.
What schools are teaching language in New South Wales? Where are they and what level is language being taught at?
Link to search page in Online Language Archive listing all school programs
Fifty pre-school, primary and secondary schools across NSW are involved in teaching Aboriginal languages (See table 2).
Table 2: Schools teaching Aboriginal Languages in NSW (source: Department of Education and Training )
| School | Language taught | DET Region |
|---|---|---|
| Albert Park Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Alexandria Park Community School | Wiradjuri | Sydney |
| Ballina Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Barrack Heights | Dharawal | Illawarra |
| Bathurst High School | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Boggabilla Central School | Gamilaraay | New England |
| Bonalbo Central School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Bowraville Central School | Gumbaynggirr | North Coast |
| Broulee Public School | Dharga | Illawarra |
| Brungle Public School | Wirandjuri | Riverina |
| Cabbage Tree Island PS | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Casino West PS | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Chifley College, Dunheved Campus | Dharug | Western Sydney (Mount Druitt) |
| Coffs Harbour Senior College | Gumbaynggirr | North Coast |
| Coonabarabran High School | Gamilaaray | Western |
| Corakai Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Culburra Public School | Dharga | Illawarra |
| Darlington Public School | Wiradjuri | Sydney |
| Dubbo College Delroy campus | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Evans River | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Forbes North Public School | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Goodooga Central school | Yuwaalaraay | Western |
| Goonellebah Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Green Hill Public School | Thunghutti/ Dunghutti | North Coast |
| Kelso High School | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Kelso Public School | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Kemblawarra Public school | Wadi-wadi | Illawarra |
| Lightning Ridge Central School | Yuwaalaraay | Western |
| Lismore Heights Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Lismore Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Nambucca Heads High School | Gumbaynggirr | North Coast |
| Nanima Public School | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Parkes High School | Wiradjuri | Western |
| Red Hill Environmental Education Centre |
Wiradjuri | Western |
| Royal Far West School | Various | N Sydney |
| Shoalhaven High School | Uknown | Illawarra |
| Stuarts Point Public School | Gumbaynggirr | North Coast |
| Tabulam Public School | Bundjalung | North Coast |
| Tenterfield High School | Bundjalung | New England |
| Toomelah Public school | Gamilaraay | New England |
| Tregear Public School | Dharug | W Sydney |
| Vincentia High School | Unknown | Illawarra |
| Walgett CC Primary School | Gamilaraay | Western |
| Walhallow Public School | Gamilaraay | New England |
| Warrumbungle Nat Park E.E.C. | Gamilaraay | Western |
| Welllington Public School | Unknown | Western |
| Wentworth Public School | Barkindji | Western |
| Wilcannia Central School | Paakantji | Western |
| Woodenbong Central School | Bundjalung (G) | North Coast |
Development of a CD-ROM for schools in NSW
On 10 June, 2006 the New South Wales Premier, the Hon. Morris Iemma MP, announced that his Government would provide dictionaries of Aboriginal languages to every New South Wales school, to give every student the opportunity to learn and appreciate Aboriginal languages. The work of the Language Centre is an essential part of delivering on the Premier’s commitment. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs has started working with researchers, the Office of the Board of Studies and the Department of Education to develop a CD-ROM of Aboriginal words to be distributed to all schools later this year. It will include an introduction to NSW Aboriginal Languages and sample word lists for many NSW Aboriginal languages.