Indigenous Languages Programmes in Australian Schools: A Way Forward Nola Purdie, Tracey Frigo Clare Ozolins, Geoff Noblett Nick Thieberger, Janet Thieberger, Nick Geoff Noblett Frigo Clare Ozolins, Tracey Forward Nola Purdie, Way A Australian Schools: Indigenous Languages Programmes in Indigenous Languages Programmes in Australian Schools A Way Forward Nola Purdie, Tracey Frigo Clare Ozolins, Geoff Noblett Nick Thieberger, Janet Sharp Indigenous Languages Programmes in Australian Schools A Way Forward Nola Purdie, Tracey Frigo Clare Ozolins, Geoff Noblett Nick Thieberger, Janet Sharp Australian Council for Educational Research This project was funded by the former Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training through the Australian Government’s School Languages Programme. The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. © Commonwealth of Australia 2008 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or for training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires the prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney General's Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. Front cover artwork by Betty Bolton, Year 4 student at Moorditj Noongar Community College. Western Australia. ISBN 978-0-86431-842-8 Map of Aboriginal Australia David R Horton, creator, © Aboriginal Studies Press, AIATSIS and Auslig/Sinclair, Knight, Merz, 1996. Table of Contents List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................iii Foreword ....................................................................................................................................vii Acknowledgements.....................................................................................................................vii Executive Summary...................................................................................................................viii 1 Background to the Project................................................................................................1 1.1 Australia’s Indigenous languages ..........................................................................1 1.2 Languages education in schools.............................................................................2 1.3 The National Statement and Plan for Languages Education in Australian Schools 2005-2008.................................................................................................2 2 Aims and Methods...........................................................................................................5 2.1 Scope and Aims .....................................................................................................5 2.2 Methods..................................................................................................................5 3 Historical Overview and Review of the Literature..........................................................9 3.1 Introduction............................................................................................................9 3.2 Language endangerment........................................................................................9 3.3 National literature on Indigenous languages education .......................................13 3.4 Types of Indigenous languages programmes in schools......................................17 3.5 Australian policy statements and recommendations with regard to Indigenous languages education from the late 1980s ..........................................25 3.6 State and Territory government activities, policies, reports and documents regarding Indigenous languages education in schools.........................................38 3.7 Summary..............................................................................................................53 4 Provision of Indigenous Languages Programmes in Australian Schools in 2006 .........56 4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................56 4.2 Indigenous languages programmes in schools.....................................................56 4.3 Australian Capital Territory.................................................................................57 4.4 New South Wales.................................................................................................58 4.5 Northern Territory................................................................................................64 4.6 Queensland...........................................................................................................72 4.7 South Australia.....................................................................................................75 4.8 Tasmania..............................................................................................................81 4.9 Victoria ................................................................................................................81 4.10 Western Australia.................................................................................................84 4.11 Summary..............................................................................................................90 5 Teacher Preparation, Training and Professional Learning ............................................92 5.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................92 5.2 Education jurisdictions.........................................................................................93 5.3 Universities ..........................................................................................................99 5.4 TAFEs................................................................................................................110 5.5 Indigenous Language and Cultural Centres .......................................................116 5.6 Summary............................................................................................................118 6 Master-Apprentice Model............................................................................................121 6.1 Introduction........................................................................................................121 6.2 The Master-Apprentice Language Learning Programme (MALLP) .................121 6.3 Related teaching models for Indigenous languages learning.............................122 6.4 Elements of successful language learning and teaching programmes ...............124 6.5 The NSW Master-Apprentice model of language learning and teaching ..........126 6.6 Discussion..........................................................................................................128 7 Case Studies.................................................................................................................130 7.1 Cable Beach Primary School .............................................................................131 7.2 Ceduna Area School..........................................................................................140 i 7.3 Moorditj Noongar Community College.............................................................147 7.4 Shepherdson College.........................................................................................154 7.5 St Mary’s Primary School (Bowraville) ............................................................167 7.6 Willowra Primary School...................................................................................177 8 Discussion and Recommendations ..............................................................................189 8.1 Purpose of teaching Indigenous languages in Australian schools......................190 8.2 Teacher preparation and support........................................................................196 8.3 Resourcing Indigenous languages programmes in schools................................198 8.4 School and community links..............................................................................199 9 References....................................................................................................................202 Appendix 1 Mapping Proforma for School Indigenous Languages Programmes .................209 Appendix 2 Mapping Proforma for Indigenous Languages Teacher Training and Professional Development .................................................................................215 Appendix 3 Proforma for Nominating Case Study Schools ..................................................220 Appendix 4 Organisations and Individuals Consulted ..........................................................223 ii List of Abbreviations ACER Australian Council for Educational Research AECG Aboriginal Education Consultative Group AEP Aboriginal Education Policy AIATSIS Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies AILF Australian Indigenous Languages Framework AISACT Association of Independent Schools, ACT AIEO Australian