A record number of children enrolled in early childhood education and care across NSW are learning Aboriginal languages, fostering a deeper connection to Country, culture, family and kin.

Many of these youngsters – and thousands more students in NSW public schools –are celebrating the second NSW Aboriginal Languages Week from October 20 to 27.

The week aims to raise awareness, spark conversations and highlight the work of local communities to revitalise Aboriginal languages.

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said more than 7500 children in early childhood education and care services across NSW were learning an Aboriginal language before they started school.

This is in addition to thousands more school students learning Aboriginal languages in schools, from Kindergarten to Year 12, through specific programs and partnerships with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and with the seven Aboriginal Language and Culture Nests.

“All children benefit from learning an Aboriginal language and gaining an enriched and deeper understanding, appreciation, and respect of the world’s oldest living culture,” Mr Dizdar said.

“For Aboriginal children, the learning of their local Aboriginal language at an early age validates their identities, strengthens their self-esteem and galvanises their sense of belonging to their culture, land, families and communities.”

Around 6500 children in non-government early childhood education services are learning an Aboriginal language through the Ninganah No More program funded by the NSW Department of Education.

A further 925 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children at NSW public preschools learn a local language through the department’s Preschool Aboriginal Language Program.

Twenty-three public preschools participate in this program, learning languages including Paakantji, Dhurga, Gamilaraay, Dharawal, Dharug, Bundjalung, Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Gathang, Dharug Dhalang, Awabakal and Darkinjung.

The program aims to increase Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children’s literacy and vocabulary skills and support opportunities for students to develop into bilingual speakers, as well as help all children learn about Aboriginal cultures and languages.

The Ninganah No More Aboriginal language hubs each comprise an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation coordinating language teaching across multiple early childhood education and care services across the language footprint. The hubs are delivering a language program to 113 non-government services in NSW.

Kingswood Park Public Preschool has been part of the Preschool Aboriginal Language Program for three years, with the children learning Dharug for one hour a week from their Aboriginal education officer, Lauren Braley.

The children learn more than 100 words a year and can start to put them into sentences. Their parents say at home their kids are now speaking Dharug and teaching them pronunciation.

Language is embedded throughout the preschool, from the welcome sign and murals to songs, games, posters and toys. The groups of children in the preschool are named Gulmany (koala) and Dingu (dingo).

Following the success of the preschool program, Ms Braley has now started running weekly Dharug classes for every class at Kingswood Park Public School, where 49 per cent of children from preschool to Year 6 are Aboriginal.

She said learning language had helped the children form a deeper connection to culture.

“To be a part of the Dharug language revitilisation phase is just immense, because there is only a small number at this moment in time of students learning Dharug language,” Ms Braley said.

"They get to be part of this program and they are sharing this and transferring this on to their families. Parents come to me often and say the kids are having disagreements and conversations about the words and tones and pronunciations.

“It’s extending their vocabulary and I keep reminding them - you are becoming bilingual.”

Nubalin Windale Public Preschool is participating in the Preschool Aboriginal Language Program for the first time in 2024.

Aunty Jacqui Allen from the Miromaa Aboriginal Language and Technology Centre visits weekly to teach Awabakal to the four-year-olds through music, movement and games.

At Windale Public School 46 per cent of the school students are Aboriginal, and in the preschool 20 of the 37 children are Aboriginal.

The language is starting to be embedded in daily activities in the preschool and in conversations in the playground and at home.

Assistant principal Angela Smith said providing children with an opportunity to learn language at a young age meant they could build on this knowledge through the rest of their schooling.

“Learning a language early aids cognitive development, enhances memory, problem-solving and critical thinking skills,” she said.

“It fosters understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture, improves communication abilities, and promotes identity and belonging. Learning the Awabakal language strengthens community ties and local connections.”

Language in schools

Tamworth South Public School has Gamilaraay language lessons every Wednesday for all students from Kindergarten to Year 6.

Each morning and at weekly assemblies the students sing an Acknowledgement of Country song written in Gamilaraay by Aboriginal singer-songwriter Kelsey Strasek Barker.

Aboriginal Education Officer Kim Kent said students and staff understood the importance of the revival of Aboriginal languages in communities.

“We love learning Gamilaraay language, and we are so lucky to have great educators teach at our school,” she said.

“Our staff and students actively use Gamilaraay language verbally and are super supportive of having authentic Gamilaraay language lessons from strong knowledge holders.”

Maran.Giirr language educators – brothers Justin, Odee and Dermott and cousin Abby – are from Gamilaraay/ Yuwaalaraay Country and teach Gamilaraay to Years 2 to 6, working with the school to align the language lessons with the curriculum.

Gamilaroi Elder Uncle Len Waters is well-known around Tamworth schools for his Dreaming stories and gives a weekly language lesson to Tamworth South’s Kinder, Year 1 and support classes.

“Uncle Len delivers a mixture of lessons incorporating art, song and storytelling and provides information that gives a better understanding of the significance of animals, plants and people in our culture and ecosystem,” Ms Kent said.

Students at Gorokan Public celebrated Aboriginal Languages Week on Tuesday with a comprehensive strengthening of connection to culture and history through traditional dance, art, bush tucker and the exploration of local Aboriginal sites.

The students were supported by local Indigenous partners, including the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, Barang Regional Alliance, members of the Darkinyung Language Group, Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services and the Gudjagang Ngara Ii-dhi Aboriginal Corporation.

At Dubbo College, year 9 students are undertaking a Certificate I in Tourism (Wiradjuri) at its Delroy campus.

The Certificate involves in-person lessons with Aboriginal community leaders and Elders, as well as practical on-the-ground excursions around the central west.

The program aims to create learning pathways for students by bridging career aspirations with work experience.

The initiative also supports the revitalisation and sustainability of Aboriginal languages, where local community members, including Wiradjuri Elders, have played a key role in the development of course materials and the use of Aboriginal language and culture to maintain cultural integrity.

Meaningful learning practices

At Little Jarjums Preschool at Casino West Public School, the young learners have a Bundjalung lesson every day, and a language and culture lesson twice a week.

Preschool teacher Amy Clark said Bundjalung language and meaningful learning practices were embedded into the preschool’s daily routine.

Students explore bush tucker and their garden and participate in traditional activities like hunting for Jubal (wood grubs); activities that foster cultural awareness, sense of community, creativity and problem-solving skills.

Two-thirds of the students at Casino West Public School are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander so the language connections from preschool are important for the school and the wider community.

Koonawarra Public Preschool on Dharawal Country celebrated Aboriginal Languages Week on Thursday by taking part in a smoking ceremony and learning how to connect to Country.

At Plunkett Street Public School in Woolloomooloo the Gujaga Foundation tutors provide weekly Dharawal language lessons to all children from preschool to Year 2.

For the 25 preschoolers this can include games, songs, visual resources and tabletop activities. visual resources, games, songs and tabletop activities.