The McGowan Government is investing nearly $800,000 in Western Australia’s community language schools, helping children connect with their cultures and learn another language.
Funding of $784,000, awarded through the Office of Multicultural Interests, will be used to support 59 community language schools across WA.
The language schools, which are not-for-profit associations run by volunteers, teach more than 37 languages including Mandarin, Kiswahili, Greek, Hindi, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Korean and Dari.
The funding will go to 51 existing schools, while eight associations have also received grants to support the administrative costs of setting up new community language schools.
Community language schools receiving funds support students from kindergarten through to Year 12, as well as those enrolled in Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) language courses.
The Community Languages Program also incorporates the Italian Language In-School Insertion Program run by the Italo-Australian Welfare and Cultural Centre. More than 10,000 students are currently accessing this program.
This funding enables the teaching of the Italian language and culture in 39 primary schools across WA.
As stated by Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Tony Buti:
“The McGowan Government is committed to enhancing language and cultural learning in the community languages sector.
“Giving children the opportunity to speak more than one language is a great gift, enhancing social and family bonds.
“Community language schools give children the ability to fully connect to their cultures and to embrace their heritage.”
