Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

The Arts and Culture section of DEWHA manages a program called the Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records.

The Maintenance of Indigenous Languages and Records (MILR) program assists the revival and maintenance of Australian Indigenous languages as living systems of knowledge shared by communities and passed down from generation to generation. It aims to address the erosion and loss of an estimated 250 Australian Indigenous languages by providing funding support to record, document and increase awareness and appreciation of Indigenous languages.

The emphasis of the program is on supporting community based projects by language groups, language research, and the development and coordination of language resources.

The objectives of the MILR program are to:

    *   support the maintenance of Indigenous languages;

    *  increase the use of Indigenous languages in a range of fields and media, including greater Indigenous community engagement;

    *  increase public appreciation of Indigenous languages; and

    *  support the sustainable development of community organisations.