The community language schools sector in Australia continues to experience growth, with various associations providing vital support to thousands of authorities and over 100,000 students across more than sixty languages.
The Victorian State Community Language Schools Conference titled “Navigating the Future” took place last Saturday at RMIT Storey Hall in Melbourne.
Over three hundred teachers and instructors participated in the event, which featured engaging presentations and workshops.
Community Languages Australia (CLA) Board members from several states and territories were in attendance, with CLSSA Executive Officer Brett Shuttleworth sharing details about the upcoming National CLA Conference in Adelaide on September 22-23.
A significant focus in the community language schools (CLS) sector is the Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), a program recommended for all schools to enhance the quality of teaching and learning. Leadership at the national and state levels is crucial for the success of this sector.
The day-to-day operations and planning are overseen by the CLA Secretariat, led by Stefan Romaniw OAM, while each state and territory association manages their own operations.
Valuable support is provided by the Victorian Office staffed by Fahry Abubaer, Heba El Hakim, and Neda Erjaei.
CLA receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Education, and in Victoria, the Department of Education supports Community Languages Victoria and the schools directly through funding. Both CLA and state associations have robust governance policies, charters, and conflict of interest policies in place to ensure effective operations.
Douvartzides reelected
Recently, elections were held for office bearers in the ACT, Victoria, and nationally.
Dr Fuxin Li was reelected as president of ACTCLSA, while Tassos Douvartzides was reelected as President of CLV in Victoria, supported by a strong committee of eleven members from various communities.
During the CLA Board’s Annual General Meeting, the Executive Committee was reelected, with Tassos Douvartzides as Chairman, Enzo Sirna as Deputy Chair for WA, Fuxin Li as Secretary for the ACT, and Rafiul Alam as Treasurer for Queensland. The meeting addressed several important matters, including the 2023-2024 Project Plan, the QAF, the National Conference, and the receipt of annual activity and financial reports.
“It is an honour for me to be reelected and work with my colleagues nationally and in Victoria,” said Mr Douvartzides who stressed the importance of Indigenous languages and expressed gratitude for the vibrant sector, which plays a significant role in language and culture maintenance in Australia.
Mr Douvartzides likened the impact of language learning to the power of a car engine, highlighting how multilingualism strengthens the mind while stressing that he looks forward to collaborating with committees to further enhance language, culture, and social harmony in Australia.
At the State Conference, he urged members of the CLA Council to share their vision for the sector’s future. Irene Bayldon, President of CLS Queensland, Binh Nguyen, President of CLS South Australia, and Mohamed Ferozkhan, Secretary of CLANT Northern Territory, highlighted the importance of cooperation in achieving shared goals.
“With strong national and state leadership, the community language schools sector is poised for a bright future, fostering linguistic diversity, cultural preservation, and social cohesion in Australia.”
