Charles Darwin University
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
This diploma equips First Nations people and community members with practical skills in language work, including revitalisation, maintenance, teaching and documentation. Ideal for those involved in or interested in community language planning, education, and cultural preservation in Australian First Nations contexts.
Applicants must meet one of the following: successful completion of Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) with an ATAR of at least 60, a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher, at least 0.5 year of full-time higher education study, equivalent overseas qualifications, a STAT Multiple Choice score of 140, completion of a tertiary enabling program, acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience, or ADF service of 1 year or more at specified ranks. Domestic students must satisfy English language proficiency requirements through Year 12 completion in Australia or approved English-speaking country, 0.5 FTE higher education study, CDU enabling course completion, TAFE qualification at Certificate III or higher, AHPRA registration, or approved English test scores (IELTS 6.0 overall minimum, no band below 6.0).
Core units include Introduction to Linguistics and Language Planning for Revitalisation and Maintenance, providing foundational knowledge in First Nations language structures and community language planning applications. Specialist electives focus on three specialisation pathways: Language Revitalisation and Maintenance covers language documentation methods, dictionary making, language teaching approaches and language acquisition; Language Teaching and Learning includes introduction to teaching and learning, language literacy and sustainability, First Nations languages and literacies, learning and teaching practice, and teaching approaches; Yolngu Languages specialisation provides four units in Yolngu languages and culture. General electives allow students to select from undergraduate units across the university.
Charles Darwin University is uniquely positioned to offer learnings from cultural experts and maintain strong relationships with Indigenous community groups. CDU is ranked in the top 100 globally for quality education (THE Impact Rankings 2021) and holds five-star rating for graduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024). The university provides flexible study options including online, on-campus, part-time and full-time modes, with Away-From-Base support offering free travel and catered accommodation for First Nations students attending face-to-face workshop blocks in Darwin.
Graduates are prepared for professional opportunities working with First Nations languages in various contexts including language centres and schools. Career paths include language education and teaching, community language planning and policy, translating and interpreting, journalism and broadcasting. Graduates may also pursue further studies and research in languages, linguistics and language teaching, with pathways available into the Associate Degree of First Nations Cultural and Language Education or Bachelor of Arts (Languages, Linguistics and Culture).
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