$2.8m for First Nations lessons

INDIGENOUS languages will be taught on country and in classrooms across Victoria, under a $2.8m spend by the Andrews government.

Certificate IV in Teaching an Australian First Nations Language will be taught at all Victorian TAFEs from 2023, superseding the existing certificate II and III level courses.

Wadawurrung woman and Geelong Aboriginal leader Corrina Eccles, a graduate of the pilot certificate IV course taken by more than 20 people, said the course challenged her.

“It wasn’t a dictionary that we had. There wasn’t other people that could help do our assessments and tasks,” Ms Eccles said.

“Every student was learning their own language so we were all doing different work.

“(Because of) the challenges I conquered in this course, I will now support and mentor and provide cultural support.”

Ms Eccles said the course would make it easier to learn Aboriginal languages.

“As First Nations people, a lot of what we do is a cultural obligation and it’s more so because of the young people,” she said.

“We want to be able to provide opportunities; we want to be able to grow our knowledge and share out knowledge.

“(As a young person), I had to walk in two worlds; my world of my culture and identity that didn’t fit in my school and outdoor activities and everything else.

“If only there was more places those two lives would come together, that would have enriched me and empowered me much more if I could have walked those two worlds together.”

Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney said the certificate IV would continue to support reintroduction of traditional languages to classrooms and for more Aboriginal people to be teachers.

“I am proud that graduates from the certificate IV (pilot program) are already teaching at 14 early childhood centres, five primary schools and in two high schools,” she said.

“I’m sure that we will see some extraordinary new outcomes for the next generation.

“Many Aboriginal communities are hungry to provide, learn, teach and preserve their languages.

“This funding will assist in ensuring that endangered languages in Victoria are preserved.

“The qualification does equip graduates to develop their skills and capabilities to teach their language in kindergartens and in schools right across in Victoria.

“The importance of all this, I think, can’t be under estimated particularly because language carries cultural knowledge.”

She said the Victorian School of Languages contributed to the course content.