Funding for More Community Language Classes Across the Beaches

Community-run language classes on the Northern Beaches will share in more than $5.5 million in funding from the NSW Government.

The Community Languages Schools Program provides funding to community organisations to help establish and run language schools in the local area, including:

• Swedish School in Sydney, which runs classes at Manly Vale, Manly Village and Manly West public schools, will receive $6,375 funding to support the operation of its community Swedish lessons.
• Tibetan Community of Australia (NSW), which runs classes at Mackellar Girls, will receive over $11,000 to support its Tibetan language lessons, as well as $5,000 to compile and produce Tibetan text books.

Other languages receiving funding include Macedonian, Finnish, Greek, Dutch and Spanish.

Member for Manly James Griffin welcomed the funding, saying it will support language diversity in the local community and strengthen ties throughout our multicultural community.

“Community language schools play an important role in helping young people maintain strong links to their heritage and cultural identity,” Mr Griffin said.

“Our Government is proud to support our community language schools and the work of their dedicated volunteers.

“Our community’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and this is one way the NSW Government is helping foster and celebrate that diversity.”

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the Community Languages Schools Program has already had a profound impact on students from all backgrounds.

“Research shows that children who learn a second language show greater cognitive development in higher order thinking skills, which means their brain has acquired the capacity to think quickly and strategically, creating a solid foundation for their schooling years,” Ms Mitchell said.