The work of community language teachers in Western Australia was celebrated last night at the Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards 2025, held at WA Museum Boola Bardip.
The event, presented by Community Languages WA in partnership with the Office of Multicultural Interests, recognises the contribution of educators who keep language and culture alive across the State.
Two teachers were awarded for their efforts. Mrs Christine Reger from the Goethe Society WA received the Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Award for her contribution to teaching and learning in her community language group. Mrs Sylwia Mason from the Polish School WA was named the Emerging Community Language Teacher of the Year. First introduced in 2024, the category honours teachers in their first three years of community language teaching.
This year’s awards drew a competitive field from across a broad range of community language schools, highlighting the value of the recognition within the sector.
The WA Government has invested a record $2.345 million in the Community Languages Program for 2025. The funding supports 18,291 students across community language schools and the Italian in-School Insertion Program. Fifty-nine community language schools teaching 37 languages, including Igbo, Amharic and Russian, have received support through the program.
Multicultural Interests Minister Dr Tony Buti said the awards reflected the dedication of teachers working across communities.
“Congratulations to Mrs Christine Reger and Mrs Sylwia Mason for their well-deserved recognition as passionate educators who make a real difference to their students, inspiring a love of culture and language that I hope will last a lifetime,” Dr Buti said.
“Many community language teachers are volunteers, selflessly offering their time, energy and skills to benefit their communities through helping to ensure community languages continue to be relevant, used and appreciated by young people.
“The Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards 2025 is a valuable opportunity to celebrate and thank community language teachers for their role in empowering their students to embrace diverse aspects of their culture.
“Western Australia is enriched by the array of culturally diverse communities who make up its unique identity, and teaching community languages is a key way to help keep our cultural diversity strong and proud for generations to come.”
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