About 700 educators from across New South Wales gathered at the University of Sydney on Saturday for the Annual Community Language Teachers Conference, a major fixture in the calendar for those teaching the state’s 61 community languages. Organised by the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools, the event brought together teachers from 297 institutions working to preserve and promote cultural ties through language.
The conference carried the theme Stronger Together and Making a Difference for Community Languages, reflecting the Federation’s push to champion heritage learning in the face of growing demands on school communities. With multicultural families spread across both metropolitan and regional areas, the challenges vary—but the message was one of shared purpose.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Prue Carr, addressed participants via video, calling the Federation a “powerhouse” and reiterating government backing through a 2024 policy that boosted funding by $100 per student. The extra support, she said, would help parents meet the costs of heritage education and allow schools to continue supporting students in maintaining a connection to their language and identity.
“I have seen first-hand – kids learning, laughing, switching between languages and sharing in the joy of being understood,” Carr said in the message. “You help kids stay connected to who they are, keeping language alive in homes and hearts for generations.”
Attendees also heard from a range of academic voices. Professor Beniko Mason of Japan’s Shitennoji University made a case for “story listening” as a tool to help students acquire language organically, moving away from rote drills and pressured speaking. Associate Professor Aniko Hatoss of the University of New South Wales focused on the use of AI and emerging technologies in language learning, urging schools to be bold in experimenting with digital tools that can enhance classroom engagement and curriculum design.
The event drew bipartisan political support. Among those in attendance were Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General Hugh McDermott, Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope, and NSW’s Director General of Education Murat Dizdar.
Federation CEO Michael Christodoulou AM thanked the Deputy Premier for her message and acknowledged the ongoing support shown by government leaders across party lines. “We’re delighted to once again host this conference and give our teachers the opportunity to connect, learn, and return with fresh ideas,” he said.
He added that while the event always offers professional development, it also reaffirms the cultural mission many of these educators take on voluntarily: “This work goes well beyond classrooms. It goes into communities and homes—and into futures.”
The Federation, established in 1981, has long advocated for improved resources, teacher training, and the formal recognition of community language schools as a core component of the state’s broader educational framework. Events like this year’s conference are seen as vital touchpoints for building momentum and cohesion within the sector.
While the pressures on migrant communities continue to evolve, the core goal remains unchanged: to give students the tools to speak in more than one tongue—and think across more than one world.
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