Significant funding boost for Community Languages Program

The future of Western Australia's community language schools has been strengthened with an additional $1.230 million per annum being allocated to the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Community Languages Program.
  • Additional $1.230 million in annual funding for Community Languages Program
  • Additional funding takes support to $2.345 million a year
  • Community Languages Program supports 53 community language schools

The future of Western Australia's community language schools has been strengthened with an additional $1.230 million per annum being allocated to the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Community Languages Program.

This will take annual funding to $2.345 million, which is distributed through an eligibility-based grant cycle for community language schools, a community languages school sector support program and the Italian In-School Insertion Program.

The CaLD Community Languages Program supports community language schools to provide language education to students from kindergarten to year 12 outside of school hours throughout Western Australia.

As the range of languages spoken in Western Australia continues to increase, this additional funding reflects the Cook Labor Government's commitment to multiculturalism.

In the 2022–23 financial year, 53 community language schools and students in 39 mainstream schools were supported, teaching 34 languages to 17,572 students.

The CaLD Community Languages Program funding is administered by the Office of Multicultural Interests. A list of currently funded community language schools is available at www.omi.wa.gov.au.

Comments attributed to Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Dr Tony Buti:

"The Cook Labor Government is committed to language learning as a means of supporting our cultural diversity and strengthening Western Australia's vibrant multicultural society.

"Language proficiency has many individual and community benefits. It increases intercultural understanding and provides future opportunities for business and international relationships.

"Almost one in every five Western Australians speak a language other than English at home, which highlights the importance of community language schools in our community."


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