A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will extend funding for six community language schools in the Ipswich and Southwest Brisbane region that help more than 700 students to stay connected to language and culture.  

The Vedanta Centre Hindu temple and community centre in Springfield Lakes, the Sudanese-Australian Lost Boys and Girls of South Sudan (SALBAGOSS) in Redbank Plains, the Sinhala Association of Queensland in Springfield, the Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery in Ellen Grove, the Thaai Tamil School in Springfield, and the Trung Vuong Vietnamese Language School in Darra will all benefit from the funding.                                                                                                                    

This is part of a $25 million election commitment to support 600 community schools across Australia that help more than 90,000 students learn 84 languages, with existing schools to receive $15 million in small grants ranging from $6,600 to $33,600.

Community Language Schools strengthen social inclusion by supporting young Australians, primarily from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to learn or maintain a language other than English. 

This program connects students to the languages of their parents, grandparents and broader communities.

$5 million of this funding will be dedicated to a specialist Asian languages funding stream to help more students, regardless of their background, become fluent in Asian languages through to Years 11 and 12.

This will open further employment opportunities and career paths for students, and grow economic ties with countries across the Indo-Pacific region.

Federal Member for Oxley Milton Dick said his electorate was one of the most diverse and multicultural in the country.

“Our diversity is our community’s strength, and we’re supporting more local families to stay close to their culture by supporting six local community language schools for more than 700 students in five languages,” Mr Dick said.

“It’s great to live in an area that has such a wide range of different cultures and languages being spoken. These language schools are an important part of our community that help locals to preserve their language, culture and heritage.

“Language connects Australia to the world, and I encourage everyone in our area to be proud of their native language and to share it with others.

“Having more Australians capable of speaking the languages of our largest trading partners and neighbours will boost our Asia literacy and be a huge benefit to our nation.”

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said community schools don’t just teach children a new language, they build a community for families of similar backgrounds, and help kids connect with their culture and elders in their communities.

“I’m proud that a re-elected Federal Labor Government will deliver this funding for community language schools in our area to help keep kids connected to language and culture,” Mr Neumann said.

“This means that migrant and refugee families in our community can continue to share their language, culture and beliefs with their children and grandchildren.

“Peter Dutton can’t be trusted to keep these important community schools open.

“Under the Liberals, Community Language Schools ran on the smell of an oily rag - with volunteers giving hours of their time and scraping together money to pay bills and supply textbooks for students. This funding would change that.

“Our commitment shows that only a re-elected Labor government will ensure community language schools in Oxley and Blair get the support they need.”

Background on community language schools in Oxley and Blair

• The Vedanta Centre Brisbane in Springfield Lakes would receive funding to support their free online Hindi classes for children aged 10 and above and adults.
• The Sudanese-Australian Lost Boys and Girls of South Sudan (SALBAGOSS) in Redbank Plains would receive funding to provide Dinka language and culture classes for around 60 South Sudanese refugee orphans, unaccompanied minors and other children.
• The Sinhala Association of Queensland in Springfield would receive funding to continue Sinhalese language classes for more than 50 students.
• The Sri Lanka Buddhist Monastery (Brisbane) in Ellen Grove would receive funding to continue Sinhalese language classes for more than 100 students.
• The Thaai Tamil School in Springfield would receive funding to continue Tamil language education for around 300 students.
• The Trung Vuong Vietnamese Language School in Darra would receive funding to continue Vietnamese language classes for around 180 students.