Overview
The AIATSIS Languages Advisory Committee (LAC) provides expert guidance and support to AIATSIS in its work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
This includes:
- Advising the AIATSIS CEO on strategic directions for AIATSIS programs relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
- Providing advice on specific language projects and initiatives of the AIATSIS Centre for Australian Languages (ACAL).
- Reviewing and providing feedback on AIATSIS research proposals and outputs, including expressions of interest for the AIATSIS Dictionaries Program.
The Committee comprises a diverse range of experts, including:
- Linguists, language practitioners and researchers with significant background working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
- Representatives from a range of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander language ecologies.
Members are appointed via an Expression of Interest process held at regular intervals.
Members
Ms Noeleen Lumby
Ms Noeleen Lumby is an Aboriginal woman and educator born on Dharawal Country. She is an experienced educator with a Master of Indigenous Language Education. She is dedicated to supporting communities in revitalising and sharing their languages. Noe has expertise in working with communities to develop language teachings, curriculum and resources. She developed and taught a Masters level unit to support teachers in working with communities and teaching languages in educational settings.
Ms Denise Smith-Aliy
Ms Denise Smith-Ali is a Noongar Linguist from South-west Western Australia, with over 24 years of experience in Noongar language, including working on documenting the Cultural mapping of the Noongar Nation in Publishing and working on the forensic analysis. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Linguistics, she is the CEO and Senior Linguist at the Noongar Boodjar Language Centre in Perth. Denise works closely with Noongar Traditional Owners, and has established significant partnerships, including collaborations with the CSIRO. She is also a board member of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages Director Group.
Mr Desmond Crump
Mr Desmond Crump, a Gamilaroi man, has a strong background in education and language research. He's an Industry Fellow at the University of Queensland and a Project Officer at Queensland State Archives.
Through his Dhinawun Consultancy, Desmond supports language revival in school communities. He's contributed to the ACARA Australian Curriculum Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language curriculum frameworks and led statewide projects including the State Library of Queensland's Indigenous Languages initiative.
Mr Crump works with Elders and community members across Queensland, assisting over 100 languages, and currently supports 20 South-West Queensland language communities and co-design of Indigenous language revitalisation programs at the University of Queensland.
Mr Clayton Cruse
Mr Clayton Cruse is an Adnyamathanha and Gamilaraay man, with family/cultural links to the Antikirinya and Yuin peoples. He is an experienced Language Worker and educator. He has worked with the Mobile Language Team, taught Adnyamathanha language in schools, and currently serves as a Project Officer with the South Australian Department for Education's Aboriginal Languages team. He is also a member of the Australian Directions Group for the Decade of Indigenous Languages. With both a Bachelor of Education and Master of Indigenous Languages Education degree/s from the University of Sydney Mr Cruse is dedicated to language revitalisation.
Ms Lorraine Injie
Lorraine is a highly respected Pilbara-based Aboriginal leader and a dedicated advocate for language preservation. She grew up speaking Yinhawangka, Banjima, and Yindjibarndi languages. With qualifications in Education and Linguistics, Lorraine brings extensive expertise to her roles.
Lorraine's passion lies in documenting and providing tools for the education and learning of traditional languages, and for 27+ years, she has served as an Executive Director of Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre, where she has been instrumental in building Australia's largest language recording database.
Dr Vicki Couzens
Dr Vicki Couzens is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous languages, currently undertaking a DECRA project at RMIT focusing on language immersion and building the local language ecology. She is a member of the National International Decade of Indigenous Languages Directions Group and the Closing the Gap Language Policy Partnership and serves as Chairperson of Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.
With experience spanning grassroots work to governance and policy, Dr Couzens brings a unique and solution-oriented perspective. She combines a pragmatic approach with a long-term vision for language preservation.
Photo: Creative Australia
Professor Jane Simpson
Jane Simpson is a linguist with extensive experience working with Indigenous Australian languages. She's worked closely with communities in Central Australia, notably with Warumungu, Warlpiri, assisting with language centres, dictionaries, and revitalisation projects elsewhere, including Kaurna and Muruwari languages.
Her research focuses on documenting and understanding Indigenous languages, including how children learn them. She's also a long-term supporter of archives as a means for making language material accessible now and in the future.
For further information about the AIATSIS Languages Advisory Committee, please email lac@aiatsis.gov.au