indian language education australia
In a bid to help more young Australians build fluency in Indian languages through to Years 11 and 12, the federal government has announced its next pedagogic investment in Indian language education through new dedicated funding. The eight languages are Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.
With financial backing through the Fluency in Asian Languages stream of the Community Language Schools Grants Program, refined teaching resources, teacher development and expanded senior secondary classes will be seen over the next 4 years.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Dr Anne Aly noted that the new grants enable young Australians maintain a connection to their culture and family while building skills that strengthen Australia’s engagement with our region.
“Language connects young people to their family, culture and community, and it also opens doors to study, employment and opportunity,” Dr Aly expressed.
A few organisations and universities are set to receive support to develop or strengthen Indian language programs.
NSW Federation of Tamil Schools Inc will encourage Tamil language learning among secondary students through enhanced learning resources and opportunities to apply Tamil in real-world settings.
Tamil Study Centre Homebush Inc will initiate a Tamil language fluency program in Homebush before commencing an expansion across New South Wales, with online resources made available throughout Australia.
The University of Sydney will aid community language schools to implement classes for Years 7–12, provide training for more teachers and furnish nationally accessible resources.
In Canberra, the Australian National University will establish Digital Language Hubs providing resources and professional development for community language teachers.
As for Victoria, Community Languages Victoria Inc will build an online Teachers Hub and amplify Asian language learning from the middle years through to senior secondary schools.
Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill emphasised the significant role that community language schools play, which extends beyond mere education. “Community language schools [help] young Australians stay connected to their heritage, strengthen intergenerational ties, and celebrate cultural identity,” Minister Hill said.
The funding comes as part of the federal Government’s $25.6 million investment over four years from 2025-26 in community language schools, which promotes over 80 languages to more than 90,000 students.
Dr Aly further highlighted that Australia’s multilingualism is ultimately a highly beneficial asset to the nation.
“Australia’s linguistic diversity is one of our greatest strengths,” she stated. “It helps us understand one another at home and strengthens our relationships across the region and the world.”indian language education australia
READ ALSO: Mother Tongues, Motherland – an ode to our many languages
