Sheldon Masters Scholarship in Australian Indigenous Languages
Target No 16 in the National Agreement of Closing the Gap is:
“By 2031, there is a sustained increase in number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.”
We understand that language and culture are cornerstones of health and wellbeing, and to improve employment participation outcomes the foundational aspects of language and culture must be addressed.
The recipient of Sheldon’s Masters Scholarship, a collaboration between the Sheldon Foundation and Western Sydney University, for 2022/23 is Corina Norman. Corina is a Warmuli/Cannemegal woman of the Darug nation who has been working strongly in community developing language resources to reinvigorate the language.
She is an educator, cultural consultant and a traditional custodian of the land where the former Blacktown Native Institution is located.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait languages are not just a means of communication, they express knowledge about everything: law, geography, history, family and human relationships, philosophy, religion, anatomy, childcare, health, caring for Country, astronomy, biology and food.
When asked how she feels about speaking her language, a Senior Pitjantjatjara Elder replied “Tjukurrpa pulka”. This means “very strong cultural lore/law”, speaking her language reinforces this. Languages encode important relationships and ways of living. There were over 250 Indigenous languages in Australia prior to colonisation, each connected to the physical place of origin. Language is so important that it is the main identifier of cultural groups in Australia and worldwide, and identity is bound up in language.
As more Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people complete research degrees, they will become leaders in education, science, arts, tech, social services, health and law, to ensure Australia’s future is one of shared visions.
This scholarship provides funds to support an Indigenous student’s living expenses for the two years of their studies and research in Australian Indigenous languages and requires specific grade point averages to be met. The student becomes a role model and a spokesperson for their community, because knowledge is always shared. It will result in a ripple effect of greater confidence and well-being in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as well as increasing respect, diversity, inclusivity and wider celebration of Australia’s intangible cultural heritage.