Yuuingan Dhilla Yari

In 2026, Yuuingan Dhilla Yari shifted from a symposium to a forum, responding to feedback from previous years and creating more space for conversation, connection and community exchange. The theme, Create to Connect: First Languages in Action, explored how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are being strengthened and shared through community, creativity, education, storytelling and cultural practice. Gaja Kerry Charlton opened the Forum with a Welcome to Country, with Scott Wilson guiding the program as Master of Ceremonies. The keynote, Old Stories, New (and Proper) Ways, presented by Common Ground CEO Gemma Pol and Communications Director Vanessa Morris, explored self-determined approaches to storytelling and to sharing and safeguarding First Nations languages and stories, emphasising truth-telling, reciprocity, cultural authority and community leadership.  

The panel First Languages in Action, chaired by Scott Wilson, brought together Corey Tutt, Dr Mayrah Yarraga Dreise, Michael Passi and Ella Woods to explore contemporary language work across STEM, education, storytelling, publishing, cultural capability and community-led programs. Creative practice was also central to the day: Indigenous Languages Creative Arts Resident Georgia Corowa performed Yana (‘mother’) alongside Zeek Power, an outcome of Revitalising Iningai Language Through Song, while Sachém Parkin-Owens’ soundscape Guided by Djara, created through Utcha ine bibboon mare – I Dreamt of You, played throughout kuril dhagun and drew on Jandai language, maternal lineage and Quandamooka storytelling.  

The afternoon moved into a Community Conversation Space, giving attendees the opportunity to meet and yarn directly with First Languages Australia, Queensland State Archives, Ngutana-Lui Cultural Studies Centre, Queensland Museum and State Library of Queensland, each with a dedicated space to share their work and connect with attendees. First Nations Curator Serene Fernando also led tours of Through Mununjali Eyes: photojournalist Wayne Coolwell, connecting the Forum’s conversations with collections, storytelling and cultural memory. Together, the format reflected the Forum’s emphasis on relationships, exchange and keeping conversations about language active beyond the event itself. 

Yuuingan Dhilla Yari returned in 2025 with a focus on Language preservation and revitalisation in the digital age, exploring how technology, media, collections and creative practice can support the continuation and everyday use of First Nations languages while maintaining community authority and language sovereignty. Gaja Kerry Charlton opened the symposium with a Welcome to Country, with Kgiyarrah Elizabeth Walker as Master of Ceremonies. Opening keynote speaker Michael Running Wolf presented Creating a first languages reality using regenerative AI practices, exploring the opportunities and risks of emerging technology, language sovereignty and data ownership. Tanya Denning-Orman, Director of First Nations at SBS, delivered the afternoon keynote Our lingo, our way, examining how NITV and SBS are bringing First Languages into media, homes and everyday life.  

Across the program, language revival was explored through archives, collections, digital technology, storytelling and creative practice. Gaja Kerry Charlton discussed translating historical recordings of southeast Queensland Elders; Ben Foley explored digital language growth; Jason Jia shared the Mapoon Language Project; Brett Leavy presented on virtual songlines and large language models; and Des Crump chaired the Caretakers and collections panel with Clarice Stanley and Raelee Lancaster. Gemma Pol explored community-led digital storytelling, while community conversations with Megan Cope and Des Crump and Black Gloves collection experiences with Tania Schafer connected language with art, identity, cultural memory and access to collections. Music and performance also featured throughout the day, including Jungaji, Kala Lagaw Ya Learning Songs with Jessie Lloyd, Leonora Adidi and Louise Manas, Nicole Reilly’s waganha winhanga-gigu, and Sophie Brennan and Jacqui Allen’s Miromaa Pulli Piriraal.  

Later sessions returned to technology, sovereignty and contemporary language use through the Language revival in the digital age panel, the Living First Language Platform with Lala Gutchen and Eric Brace, and Scott Wilson’s exploration of comics and popular culture through Indigiverse Comics. Scott later joined Fred Leone, Nicole Reilly and Tanya Denning-Orman for Language revival and the arts, chaired by Kgiyarrah Elizabeth Walker. The symposium concluded with Butchulla Songman Fred Leone using live vocals and a loop pedal to layer rhythm, language and song, bringing together the day’s focus on language, creativity and contemporary cultural expression.  

Watch the 2025 forum.  

The 2024 Yuuingan Dhilla Yari: Indigenous Languages Symposium brought together Indigenous language custodians, educators, researchers and community members to explore the role of Indigenous languages in literacy. The symposium focused on how revitalising Indigenous languages can enhance education and literacy in Queensland’s Indigenous communities. Through keynotes, panels and workshops, attendees gained practical insights into integrating Indigenous languages into curriculums and community programs. 

Opening keynote, Being a Voice for Country: Indigenous Languages and Literacy by Ben Bowen, CEO of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, explored how literacy materials in First Nations languages are being developed in remote communities. Ben emphasised a community-led approach to creating culturally relevant resources that support literacy in Indigenous languages. His powerful address highlighted the importance of embedding language into everyday literacy practices. 

Story strings workshop with Dr Debra Dank demonstrated storytelling as a powerful tool for language learning and cultural pride, guiding participants to create their own story strings which serve as a language teaching tool and a way to inspire cultural pride. The program concluded with the panel Next Steps: Protocols for Using Indigenous Languages, facilitated by Cheryl Leavy, which offered guidance on ensuring the ethical and respectful use of Indigenous languages, inspiring attendees to support their ongoing revitalisation and preservation. 

The 2023 Yuuingan Dhilla Yari: Queensland Indigenous Languages Symposium focused on empowering youth leadership and embedding language in education, sharing strategies and approaches to support language revival for and by the next generation. Rhianna Patrick guided the program as Master of Ceremonies, with Tribal Experiences providing the Welcome to Country, a performance from the Kutaw Zoeru Torres Strait Island Dance Troupe, and addresses from the Hon Leeanne Enoch MP and State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald AM FALIA. First Languages Australia CEO Beau Williams delivered the keynote address, exploring advocacy, partnerships, sector support and community-led approaches to strengthening First Languages.  

A dedicated youth stream at The Edge invited young people to take part in Song and poetry writing in language and Language song recording with Georgia Llewellyn and Matthew Burns. Other sessions explored engaging young people with language through Desert Pea Media, Kahli Dawkings and Lala Gutchen, early years language development with Jackie Bennett and Cecilia See Kee, and digital and physical language resources with Joyce Bonner-Schultz. The day concluded with a youth showcase and panel reflections, placing young people, educators, language practitioners and creative organisations at the centre of conve

Marking the beginning of UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032, Yuuingan Dhilla Yari brought Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language speakers, practitioners, academics, researchers and cultural leaders together at Brisbane Powerhouse to explore the possibilities and future of Queensland’s First Languages. The program considered language revival, use and continuation alongside the importance of First Languages to cultural rights, social inclusion, health and wellbeing. Cameron Costello guided the day as Master of Ceremonies, with keynote presentations from Professor Jakelin Troy and Professor Clint Bracknell and contributions from speakers including Mayor Philemon Mosby.  

Practical workshops explored moving from language research into active language use, working with archival and digital collections, the role of public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres in language maintenance and revival, and using partnerships and funding opportunities to increase language awareness and use. Delivered with partners including State Library of Queensland, The University of Queensland and Queensland State Archives, the program connected research, collections, community capability and partnerships with opportunities for Queensland’s First Languages to continue to be spoken, shared and strengthened.