Two Shoalhaven First Nations language organisations will receive funding boosts to support culture and conserve local Indigenous languages.

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting the Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre and Waminda South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation with funding through the Indigenous Language and Arts (ILA) program.

Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said she was proud to deliver $179,200 for Cullunghutti’s Language Revival Program which aimed to strengthen the intergenerational transmission of the Dharawal language.

“The program starts with toddlers through Cullunghutti’s early learning programs, and continues right through to their after school sessions and cultural activities,” she said.

“Strengthening the knowledge of the Dharawal language in families, from children through to Elders, will help safeguard First Nations stories and cultural expressions for generations to come.”

Mrs Phillips said Waminda had also received $250,000 for its Bugiaa, Nhaawei, Buradjaa (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow) project.

“This exciting project will help revitalise and sustain local languages across our region through a range of creative processes that celebrate culture through artistic engagement,” she said.

“Both of these important Aboriginal community-led projects celebrate our local First Nations languages and will ensure they are conserved and maintained.”

The program will invest funding over five years to support 22 First Nations language centres across the country.

More information about the ILA program can be found at Indigenous Languages and Arts program | Office for the Arts.

Photo: Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips at the Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre.