Overview
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise hundreds of groups that have their own distinct languages, histories and cultural traditions. For Indigenous Australians, connection to culture is a central part of belonging and identity that maintains good health and wellbeing.
Language is a critical part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Knowledge about culture is passed down the generations through language. Indigenous languages represent the diversity and the dynamic nature of Indigenous cultures and identity.
A sustained increase in the number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken, by 2031, is one of the targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.