The International Decade of Indigenous Languages Directions Group is working in partnership with the Australian Government on initiatives for the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–32.

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The Office for the Arts has established the International Decade of Indigenous Languages Directions Group (Directions Group) to shape Australia's participation in the UNESCO International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032 (the International Decade). The Directions Group was formed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process that received 58 applications assessed by a panel that included key First Nations stakeholders.

The Directions Group is comprised of 18 members: 13 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members, including two members representing First Languages Australia; and five ex-officio members from key Government agencies (the Office for the Arts (OFTA), Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and the Department of Education).

One of the key activities of the Directions Group has been to develop the Australian National Action Plan for the International Decade in partnership with Government, as well as provide strategic policy direction and work on key projects, such as planning for an Australian launch event.

Meetings

The Directions Group have met virtually on a regular basis since they commenced in 2022. They have met in person three times:

  1. Ngunnawal country (Canberra), in May 2022
  2. Mparantwe (Alice Springs), September 2022
  3. Kaurna country (Adelaide), March 2023.

Communiques from the Directions Group's in-person meetings can be found below.

Australia's International Decade of Indigenous Languages Directions Group's first meeting in Canberra, May 2022.

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Canberra Meeting: First Nations members of the Directions Group pictured left to right: Phillemon Mosby, Denise Smith-Ali, Vicki Couzens, Jillian Mundy, Daryn McKenny, Shania Armstrong, Annalee Little, Gawura Wanambi, Joyce Bonner and Beau Williams.

Missing from the Photo: Clayton Cruse, Lorraine Injie and Desmond Crump.

 

Members of the Directions Group pictured with Arrernte elder Sabella Turner

Mparantwe Meeting: Members of the Directions Group pictured with Arrernte elder Sabella Turner left to right: Jillian Mundy, Michelle Manning (NIAA), Joyce Bonner, Annalee Little, Sabella Turner, Pauline Halchuk (OFTA), Beau Williams, Michelle Bedford (DFAT), Shania Armstrong, Clayton Cruse, Denise Smith-Ali, Sarah Davis (OFTA), Liam Tucker (OFTA), Lorraine Injie, Lauren Reed (AIATSIS) and Daryn McKenny. Missing from photo Dr Vicki Couzens, Phillemon Mosby, Desmond Crump and Gawura Wanambi.

Kaurna country meeting: Members of the Directions Group and Secretariat left to right: Sheridan Williams (OFTA), Joyce Bonner, Daryn McKenny, Leitha Assan, Clayton Cruse, Sarah Davis (OFTA), Gawura Wanambi, Marrianne Schafer-Gardiner (Education), Juliette Hubbard (NIAA), Desmond Crump, Doug Marmion (AIATSIS), Shania Armstrong, Pauline Halchuk (OFTA), Michelle Bedford (DFAT), Annalee Little, Dr Vicki Couzens Jillian Mundy, Lauren Reed (AIATSIS). Missing from photo Beau Williams, Denise Smith-Ali, and Lorrain

Kaurna country meeting: Members of the Directions Group and Secretariat left to right: Sheridan Williams (OFTA), Joyce Bonner, Daryn McKenny, Leitha Assan, Clayton Cruse, Sarah Davis (OFTA), Gawura Wanambi, Marrianne Schafer-Gardiner (Education), Juliette Hubbard (NIAA), Desmond Crump, Doug Marmion (AIATSIS), Shania Armstrong, Pauline Halchuk (OFTA), Michelle Bedford (DFAT), Annalee Little, Dr Vicki Couzens Jillian Mundy, Lauren Reed (AIATSIS). Missing from photo Beau Williams, Denise Smith-Ali, and Lorraine Injie.

Since the Directions Group was established at the beginning of 2022 they have:

  • developed their Terms of Reference and determined their values and vision for languages
  • drafted the Directions Group Indigenous Languages Priorities Paper and Priorities Paper on a page
  • co-authored Voices of Country—Australia's National Action Plan for the International Decade. The Action Plan focuses on five key themes for the Decade—the five themes are:
  • 1. stop the loss
    2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are centre
    3. caring for Country
    4. intergenerational knowledge transfer
    5. truth telling and celebration.
  • Guided Australia's launch of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages

If you have any enquiries regarding the Directions Group please emailIndigenousLanguagesSecretariat@arts.gov.au.
 

For more

Documents

The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connections to land, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and Elders past, present and future.

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