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Community Languages Australia
Building Bridges Through Languages
Connecting educators, communities and generations through language, culture and a shared sense of belonging.
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About Community Languages Australia
Where language and culture come together
Community Languages Australia (CLA) represents all community language school state and territory federations and associations at a national level.
Languages connect people, strengthen communities and build a more inclusive Australia.
Community language schools
Our history
In operation since 1857, Australia’s community language schools are one of the many tools used to consolidate Australia’s identity as a truly multicultural society.
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Our roles
The development, promotion, and implementation of activities and programs designed to assist community language schools in achieving their goals.
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The benefits
An invaluable role in Australia’s cultural and social landscape is played through the education, training and community work carried out by our community language schools.
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In brief
Community language schools (or ethnic schools) are after-hours language schools that provide mother tongue language teaching and cultural maintenance programs.
Read moreOur projects and resources
An umbrella body uniting the community language schools of Australia and the state-based bodies that serve as their administrators.
Community language schools by state
Sector snapshot from CLA’s previous website: students, schools, languages and teachers.
38,528
New South Wales
students · 318 schools 56 languages · 3,000 teachers
44,564
Victoria
students · 206 schools 51 languages · 2,960 teachers
8,120
South Australia
students · 94 schools 46 languages · 701 teachers
5,347
Western Australia
students · 47 schools 17 languages · 343 teachers
5,300
Queensland
students · 39 schools 20 languages · 339 teachers
2,733
Australian Capital Territory
students · 55 schools 50 languages · 405 teachers
562
Northern Territory
students · 13 schools 7 languages · 67 teachers
196
Tasmania
students · 11 schools 6 languages · 45 teachers
Latest news
20th National Community Languages Conference
Sharing Language and Culture – Preserve, Connect, Belong, Respect.
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Community Language Schools Program
An archived announcement about the Home Affairs grant program for community language schools.
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Professional development for community language teachers
Explore professional learning and share ideas for the classroom.
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AFESA Community Languages Australia held its AGM
Connecting the community language schools sector across Australia.
Read moreFind a community language school
Over 100,000 students learn and maintain their heritage language and culture in community language schools across Australia.