Funding for Kalgoorlie/Boulder library language resources

26/6/96

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has been given a $4,730 grant by the State Government to provide library resources for local residents wanting to improve their skills in English.

Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said Kalgoorlie-Boulder was one of 12 country councils which had received funding under the Government's Language Learning Resource Centre Program.

The funds are available to purchase items such as language books, tapes and videos, computer software, tape and video recorders, televisions and headphones. Individual councils determine which resources are most appropriate for their libraries.

The language learning centre program is intended to cater for:

people from non-English speaking backgrounds wanting to improve their English language skills; and -

people keen to learn a language other than English.

Mr Omodei said the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder had sought funding to provide English language resources at the William Grundt Library in Kalgoorlie.

He said the local population of over 26,000 included many people from non-English speaking backgrounds who would benefit from the program.

"At the last census, there were more than 30,000 Western Australians who could not speak English or could not speak it well," he said.

"Those people face enormous problems participating in community life. They can be severely disadvantaged both socially and professionally, with problems ranging from difficulty in accessing essential services to social isolation and loneliness."

While the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder had chosen initially to focus on English language resources, the program also provides funds to purchase materials for people wanting to learn a language other than English. The council could make a further application next year if it wished to also provide those resources.

Mr Omodei said the State Government program was developed during the International Year of Tolerance last year, when all councils were invited to apply for funding.

"We wanted our commitment to the Year of Tolerance to be of lasting value to the whole community, rather than something which was short-term and quickly forgotten," he said.

Mr Omodei said many of the councils which received funding proposed working in partnership with local ethnic groups, schools, colleges and even business organisations.

The languages program was jointly funded by the Office of Multicultural Interests and the Lotteries Commission.

Media contact: Amanda O'Brien (09) 222 9595