 At Akara, one of our aims is to ensure that students have an opportunity to learn a variety of languages during their schooling. Last year we published 11 languages curricula, including Arabic, Chinese, German, modern Greek, Spanish and Vietnamese, to name just a few. But what of those languages closer to home? Did you know that there are at least 250 distinct Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages in existence? Of these, only 17 are currently used for everyday communication by whole communities across generations. When the shape of the Australian curriculum languages paper was developed in 2012, the community identified that it was necessary to develop a framework for Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages. The framework represents a significant step in acknowledging the importance and value of these languages to our society. Remember, this is a framework, not a curriculum. The framework approach allows language specific curriculum to be developed at a local level. It also provides a consistent structure to the teaching of languages. In developing the framework, we conducted extensive public consultation, online consultation and community consultation forums. The 240 people participated in the forums across Australia, representing over 80 Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages. As Geoff Anderson, member of the We're a Dury Council of Elders, put it, the benefits of Aboriginal languages taught in schools can be astronomical. And we're thrilled to now have a framework that's available for implementation across the country. To view the framework, visit our website on www.AustralianCurriculum.edu.au.