First Nations Languages: Bridging Now to Next

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme is “Bridging Now to Next” (Reconciliation Australia, 2025) which encourages Australians to go forward together into the future with past lessons to guide us. In the context of language revitalisation, this year’s theme provides further inspiration to reawaken and maintain First Nations languages. By combining First Nations knowledge, language maintenance and education, First Nations communities are working together to keep languages alive and give the next generation the opportunity to learn their languages.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2022-2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to draw attention to the critical status of many Indigenous languages around the world. Australia is among many countries concerned with language revitalisation and maintenance.

Here at SBS, we recognise the important role of language in connecting with and continuing culture. As a network, National Indigenous Television (NITV) is committed to investing in the use of First Nations languages on our platforms and services, to contribute to language use, growth and preservation. In line with SBS’s Charter, our principal function is to “provide multilingual and multicultural broadcasting and digital media services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians, and, in doing so, reflect Australia’s multicultural society.”

The state of First Nations languages

Pre-colonialism, more than 250 languages were spoken throughout Australia. Each language was unique in grammar, pronunciation and meaning, with some Nations having various dialects within one language. (Source: Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies – Languages Alive)

Following European settlement, many languages were lost due to government policies and pressure to assimilate. Many First Nations peoples were no longer able to speak or teach their languages to their children, leading to a decline in speakers, and many languages becoming inactive. Today, over 150 First Nations languages are spoken in Australia. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Why is it called “reawakening”?

When language revitalisation is referred to, languages with no speakers are often labelled as “sleeping”, because as AIATSIS puts it:

“It is possible to bring languages back. This is called language reawakening. We refer to languages with no speakers as ‘sleeping’, because there is a possibility that these languages can be woken up again.”

There is hope, with many mobs and communities working hard to reawaken and maintain their languages. Engaging with remaining fluent speakers, many languages are being reawakened and taught in schools, with dictionaries as well as children’s books available to support this learning.

There are some First Nations languages that still have speakers, and their focus is on language maintenance through caring for language.

The importance of language revitalisation

Universally, languages are cherished parts of culture. The connection between language, culture and identity is strong for many people around the world, and this is no different for First Nations peoples. When it comes to the revitalisation, First Nations languages are seen as containing important information about Country and culture, as highlighted by SBS’s Elder in Residence, Rhoda Roberts AO, a Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nation:

“The revitalisation of First Nations languages heals our nation. For me, it’s a time of a new awakening that informs us all. Behind every word you will find information about the seasons, the place and the ecology of our wonderful country. It’s more than education – it’s also the science and the realisation that words can enlighten us all.”

Let’s look at the ways SBS and NITV are inspiring the reawakening, care and continuation of First Nations languages.

First Nations language revitalisation across SBS and NITV

At SBS and NITV, we share First Nations languages, names and voices across our network. First Nations languages are elevated through our content and across our platforms, with the aim of strengthening connections and providing opportunities for all Australians to connect and learn through culture.

Director of Audio and Language Content at SBS, David Hua highlights:

“SBS’s Charter includes a responsibility to contribute ’to the retention and continuing development of language and other cultural skills’. For decades, we have been working with First Nations people telling stories of culture and resilience. NITV Radio have had forays into output languages like Palawa Kani, Wiradjuri, Warlpiri and this helps build understanding of the languages, and strengthen identity and belonging.”

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Tanya Denning-Orman, a proud Birri and Guugu Yimidhirr woman and Director, First Nations, for SBS, also said,

”We’re thrilled to be able to deliver First Nations languages every way, every day at NITV, and also look for more ways to do so across the whole SBS network. We are proud to have a First Nations content hub on SBS On Demand called NITV Muy Ngulayg, a Kalaw Kawaw Ya term describing a complex and concept of inner knowledge. We also have our kids’ programs –Jarjums is on NITV every day, as well as shows like Little J and Big Cuz being delivered in multiple Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages – telling our stories from our perspectives and sharing them in Australia’s First Languages. First Nations place names also feature on SBS World News every night, acknowledging the 65,000 years of history we share on this continent. We honour and strengthen a sense of belonging for First Nations peoples and deliver the stories of the world’s oldest continuous culture to all Australians, including those newly arrived. However you engage with us across the network, we will acknowledge language, Country and culture in meaningful ways to make an impact for our communities to see themselves represented on screen.”

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Alongside NITV Muy Ngulayg, Little J and Big Cuz and Jarjums, there are many examples of this work across the network. We continue to explore ways to make more of our kids shows accessible through language including Barrumbi Kids, another award-winning children’s TV show which also reflects NITV’s commitment to Indigenous language revitalisation through delivering episodes with subtitles in First Languages including Eastside Kriol and Torres Strait Creole.

In 2022, SBS and NITV premiered True Colours, a powerful drama and murder mystery set in Central Australia, which broke new ground on Australian TV with English and Arrernte used alongside each other by characters in the series.

In 2024, Aboriginal language and culture was celebrated with Electric Fields performing and representation Australia on the Eurovision stage. Their song, One Milkali (One Blood), was a dance track which included the use of Yankunytjatjara language, from the homelands of singer, Zaachariaha Fielding.

Through SBS Audio, languages are also being celebrated through podcasts. NITV Radio is exploring and highlighting different First Nations languages through podcasts, including Ngiyang. Hosted by Lowanna Grant, NITV Radio Executive Producer, Ngiyang (‘language’) is a podcast with Uncle Stan Grant Sr who discusses and reclaims his language with the Wiradjuri community. The podcast delves into the Wiradjuri language, interviewing members of the Wiradjuri community and Wiradjuri speakers. Alongside Ngiyang, Jukurrpa Stories is a podcast which delves into Jukurrpa (sometimes referred to as ‘Dreaming’) in Warlpiri language. The podcast is produced at PAW Media, an Indigenous media organisation in Yuendumu, Northern Territory.

In NITV Radio podcast special Palawa Kani, listeners had the opportunity to learn some of the Palawa Kani language, its origins as well as place names in Lutruwita/Tasmania.

Alongside Learn Wiradjuri, My Grandmother’s Lingo, is an award-winning interactive animation exploring the endangered Marra language of Arnhem Land in Northern Australian. The animation is a preservation effort that shares the beauty of Marra and teaches words in the Marra Language. Viewers can interact with the beautiful video, listen to the stories of the speaker and record themselves saying the words. SBS Learn also offers teachers the opportunity to share this appreciation of Marra language and the documentary with students through SBS Learn.

The value of languages

Reawakening and maintaining First Nations languages helps more people to recognise and appreciate the beauty in these languages and the unique stories connected to them. When we continue to engage with language and listen to the stories speakers have with their languages, we grow in our respect for First Nations languages and the efforts to reawaken them. SBS and NITV are committed to being a part of this growing appreciation and care for First Nations languages.

In reawakening and maintaining languages, we follow the path set out by this year’s National Reconciliation Week theme and move closer towards reconciliation. We understand the value of language for both First Nations and non-First Nations peoples as well as the value and strength that education in these languages can bring.

About the author

Kristen Martin is a proud Yuin woman currently living and working on Dharug land. She is currently employed at SBS and is passionate about First Nations Language Revitalisation. It fuels her desire to work in linguistic and First Nations spaces, as well as bridge her way back to culture.

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