Federal Labor is hoping to bring First Nations languages to more classrooms across Australia, as part of a commitment to keep cultures alive.
Shadow Education Minister Tanya Plibersek told SBS News she believes it will have a broad impact.
"Where this is happening, we see much better attendance rates both in Indigenous and non-Indigenous children," she said.
The federal opposition is committing $14 million over the next three years, to bring First Nations teachers to around 60 schools.
It's a program already taking place at Thornbury Primary School in Melbourne's north.
Aunty Terri Lee-Fitzpatrick is teaching students at the school the local Indigenous language, Woywurring.
She told SBS News it's giving students a sense of pride and respect.
"I think it's vital that programs like this are put in place to really help to you know work against some of the negative issues in terms of racism," Aunty Terri said.
Aunty Terri Lee-Fitzpatrick. Credit: SBS News
"Our students have such a strong sense of pride, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, and a connection to place and the country we're on," she said.
"I can't imagine running the school in any other way."
Ms Plibersek said Labor hopes that success can be replicated around Australia.
"This will assist in those languages being recovered and reclaimed now, it will assist in that recovery and reclamation," she said.
The approach already has support from star singer, Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, Isaiah Firebrace.
"Just the thought of that being so many other schools across Australia is so exciting because for me it didn't happen when I was in school," he told SBS News.
Isaiah Firebrace singing with Grade 3 class at Thornbury Primary School. Credit: SBS News
Linguistics lecturer at ANU, Dr Carmel O’Shannessy, told SBS News she welcomes the announcement but says a longer-term program is needed.
"Longer is better. We need students to be learning languages for the longer term," she said.
"What a language needs is people speaking it across all of the age groups."
The Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt has also strongly endorsed teaching First Nations languages.
A spokesperson for Mr Wyatt told SBS News that each state and territory's Department of Education is responsible for funding language teaching in schools.
"The Morrison government funds complementary programs aimed at increasing the number of Indigenous language speakers," the spokesperson said in a statement.
This includes $22.8 million between 2021 and 2025 for Indigenous language programs, centres and partnerships, $32.96 million between 2015 and 2024 for language literacy and digital preservation, dictionaries and translating and interpreting services, and around $20 million annually for the Indigenous Language and Arts Program.
