In brief
Thousands more Australian kids will get the chance to learn a First Nations language as part of Labor’s plan to boost school attendance and lift academic results.
Labor will support 60 primary schools to hire a full time First Nations language teacher. Labor’s plan will:
An Albanese Labor Government will partner with 60 primary schools around the country to teach local Indigenous languages and cultural knowledge in schools. Labor’s plan will create local jobs for First Nations people and support school attendance for First Nations students.
Why do we need this?
Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuous culture – with 60,000 years of wisdom, knowledge, language and art. Our country is made stronger and richer when we understand and celebrate this history and culture. But right now, less than one per cent of Australian students are learning a First Nations language at school.
The details
First Nations communities will be placed at the center of Labor’s $14 million plan and will be part of the decision making at every step. Where communities decide to participate in the program, they’ll be able to work with schools and regional coordinators to appoint First Nations Educators who will receive training in Education Support and then be placed in a local primary school.
First Nations Educators will teach language in primary schools and work with teachers on ways to share knowledge of local cultures across the curriculum, through classes like art, science and story-telling.
The program will be open to application by schools around the country. We’ll prioritise schools with high enrolments of First Nations students, based on need.