NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2025
NSW Aboriginal Languages Week is a time to celebrate and honor Aboriginal languages. During Week 2, Term 4, NSW public schools and early childhood education centres will shine a spotlight on various Aboriginal languages across NSW and come together to reawaken, grow and nurture Aboriginal languages and cultures through learning.
‘Let Our Voices Fly’
Aboriginal languages are significant to Aboriginal people in maintaining their culture and their law. Aboriginal people are the custodians of these languages and their growth and nurturing (Aboriginal Languages Act 2017).
The theme ‘Let Our Voices Fly’ reflects the strength and resilience of Aboriginal languages, celebrating the shared journey to connect, speak and fly. It captures the vision of communities coming together to speak and celebrate languages with pride, ensuring the thrive for future generations.
Local Aboriginal communities across NSW are currently working to reclaim, revitalise and maintain their languages through the teaching and learning of Aboriginal languages and cultures in schools.
Cultural principles and protocols
When it comes to teaching and learning Aboriginal languages and culture, schools must work in partnership with their local Aboriginal communities, in line with local cultural principles and protocols.
In NSW, cultural principles and protocols may differ between local Aboriginal communities. Schools should adhere to these principles and protocols when sourcing local Aboriginal language speakers and throughout the development and implementation of school-based learning and teaching programs to maintain and revitalise local Aboriginal languages and cultures.
To find out and gain more knowledge about cultural principles and protocols, schools can contact: their local (AECG), Aboriginal education consultants within education sectors AboriginalLanguagesAndCulturesCorro@det.nsw.edu.au, local Aboriginal Land Councils; Aboriginal Language Nests (in respective locations) and/or Aboriginal Language Centres.
Visit the NSW ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Standards Authority (NESA) website to download the .
For more information read the from the NSW AECG.
Video resources
The NSW Department of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Consultative Group (AECG), has developed these video resources to inspire, excite and support national efforts to preserve Aboriginal languages.
Video 1 - Welcome to NSW Aboriginal Languages Week (13:35)
Hear from Murat Dizdar, Secretary at the NSW Department of ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, and Ray Ingrey, President of the AECG, as they come together to open NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2025. This message celebrates the theme, Let Our Voices Fly, and features voices from students across NSW schools, highlighting the powerful, community-led work happening state-wide in language revitalisation.
Video 2 - Day in the Life of an AECG Aboriginal Language Educator (2:51)
Join NSW AECG Aboriginal languages educators Aunty Ruth Hammond and Uncle Rod Towney as they share their passion, deep knowledge for teaching at Geurie, Wongarbon and Wellington Public Schools in NSW. This video captures the excitement and pride of students and staff learning Wiradjuri language and the powerful role language educators play in keeping culture and connection alive.
Video 3 - Early Language Learners at Community XChange (2:05)
Explore how early childhood and education care service Community XChange, located in Mt Druitt NSW, is supporting language revitalisation through teaching and sharing language to their early learners through the Ninganah No More language program.
Video 4 - Dhungutti Language Livestream
Join Aunty Caroline Bradshaw on Friday 24 October for a virtual Dhungutti Language lesson at Green Hills Public School. Get ready to learn more about Dhungutti Language and Culture through this session.
This session will include a Bingo Lesson, so please bring along a notepad and pen to play along.
Come along and join the fun on Friday 24 October at 10:00am - 10:45am - click here to add the lesson to your calendar.