An invitation to take part in the Review of the ACT Languages Policy

All interested in language-related issues are invited to be involved in the review of the  ACT Government’s Language Policy:Many Voices: The ACT languagespolicy 2012-2016) in two ways:  

1. Call for written comments on the current policy 
The Community Participation Group (CPG) of the ACT Community Services Directorate is calling for community input via the template downloadable HERE   

You will see that the template covers 5 key areas of the policy:  

• English as the National Language,
• Language Services,
• Learning other Languages,
• Languages and Economic Benefit and
• Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages.

In relation to one or more of these areas, you may like to

• list your own activities, whether assisted by government or other organisations/groups  
• comment on the policy's aims and government implementation
• suggest new ideas or ways to strengthen the policy 

Please return responses to languagesact@gmail.com by cob Friday 29 July.

2. Public forums 

You are invited to attend one of two public forums to 

• hear reports on the community responses collected through the exercise above, plus responses from a similar template sent to ACT Government Directorates and 
• discuss the issues raised and provide further comments on the achievements of the current policy and ideas for new actions/priorities.  

Details of the forums:

• Tuesday 9 August 6.30pm to 8.30pm, Function Room, 2nd Floor, Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, LondonCircuit, Canberra city  or
• Saturday 13 August 1.30pm to 4pm, Room 121 on the lower level of the Baldessin Precinct Building (Building 110) at ANU. Please enter by door on Ellery Crescent – see MAP

Attendance is free, and refreshments will be available

To register for one of the forums (RSVP by Friday 5 August), please contact Lindsay Burge, Senior Policy and Projects Officer, CPG at Lindsay.Burge@act.gov.au or Mandy Scott at languagesact@gmail.com

Discussion at these forums, plus the previous written comments, will help guide the review process and provide input for the Directorate's recommendations to government on the form and content of the Languages Policy 2016-2020.