The Albanese Government has announced a $2.5 million investment to strengthen Asian language education, aiming to equip young Australians with the skills needed to engage more effectively with the region.
The funding, delivered under the Fluency in Asian Languages program, will support nine organisations across Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It forms part of the government’s broader $25 million Community Language Schools initiative.
The program will help students in Years 7 to 12 build fluency in 20 Asian languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Nepali, Sinhalese, Mandarin, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Burmese, Yue (Cantonese), and Indonesian, while also strengthening cultural understanding and engagement.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the initiative was critical to strengthening Australia’s engagement with the region.
“Australia’s interests demand we engage in the region more consistently and more deeply,” she said.
“When young Australians learn Asian languages, they build the trust, relationships and capability to engage more effectively.”
Universities including Macquarie University, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne and Australian National University are involved in projects designed to deliver national benefits through improved curriculum and teaching resources.
Community language schools—long a cornerstone of multicultural Australia—will use the funding to boost student participation and retention, while enhancing their capacity to deliver high-quality language education.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly said language skills were a national asset that created opportunities for young people while strengthening cultural understanding.
“They create opportunity for young people, strengthen cultural understanding and help build the workforce Australia needs for the future.”
The move follows concerns about a long-term decline in Asian language learning in Australia, which has weakened the nation’s ability to connect with key regional partners.
Assistant Minister Julian Hill added that improving language capability would support Australia’s economic future, particularly in engaging with fast-growing Asian markets.
“Having more Australians capable of speaking the languages of our largest trading partners and neighbours is a huge benefit to our nation, opening further employment opportunities and career paths for students, and growing economic ties with our friends and neighbours across our region.”
Since 2023, the government has invested more than $40 million in community language schools, with an additional $5 million committed to helping more students continue language studies through to Year 12 and achieve fluency.
Officials say the latest funding will not only support education outcomes but also strengthen Australia’s cultural ties and economic engagement across Asia, ensuring the next generation is better prepared for a globally connected future.
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