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Yuuingan Dhilla Yari: 2026 Indigenous Languages Forum
About the forum
This year, Yuuingan Dhilla Yari returns on Tuesday 9 June as a forum with the theme Create to Connect: First Languages in Action, highlighting the many ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are being strengthened, shared and celebrated through community, creativity, education and cultural practice. Bringing together language practitioners, creatives, educators, researchers, organisations and community members, the one-day forum will explore how first languages are being activated through community initiatives, education, digital storytelling, contemporary media and public programs.
Guided by MC Scott Wilson, the day will centre conversation, connection and knowledge sharing, featuring a keynote presentation followed by a facilitated panel conversation. The afternoon program will then open into a community yarning space designed for networking and exchange with practitioners, organisations and fellow attendees, including community exchange tables, Creative Residency spotlights and curator tours of Through Mununjali Eyes in kuril dhagun.
Join the forum
Program
| 8:30am | Registration plus complimentary coffee and tea available Elders Room open |
| 9:30am | Forum commencement Welcome to Country by Gaja Kerry Charlton Opening remarks by Vicki McDonald AM FALIA, State Librarian and CEO Introduction to the day by Scott Wilson, Master of Ceremonies |
| 9:50am | Keynote: Old Stories, New (and Proper) Ways Common Ground, CEO Gemma Pol and Communications Director Vanessa Morris First Nations languages and stories are not linear; they spiral, connecting, remaking and moving across time and space. In an ecosystem built on colonial narratives that have historically silenced or misappropriated Indigenous knowledge, creating new but proper ways to celebrate First Languages is essential to justice and truth-telling. Common Ground’s Gemma Pol and Vanessa Morris will explore how a small, 100% First Nations-led collective is changing systems by creating self-determined spaces for language learning, sharing and safeguarding – drawing on examples from multi-platform projects like Dreamy, First Nations Bedtime Stories and Weaving Truths. |
| 11:00am | Morning tea on the Queensland Terrace, level 2 |
| 11:30am | Panel Discussion: First Languages in Action Chair: Scott Wilson This panel brings together speakers working across STEM, education, storytelling, publishing, cultural capability and community-led language initiatives. The conversation will explore how First Languages are being activated in schools, creative projects, children’s resources, and public programs, and how these approaches support connection, learning and language revitalisation across community. |
| 12:30pm | Residency Spotlight Indigenous Languages Creative Resident Georgia Corowa will perform alongside Zeek Power, sharing Yana, an outcome from her residency project, Revitalising Iningai Language Through Song. The song represents a steppingstone in reconnecting bloodlines back to Country, with Georgia’s project exploring music as a pathway for language revitalisation and reconnection with her paternal Iningai heritage. Indigenous Languages Creative Resident Sachém Parkin-Owens’ soundscape project, Utcha ine bibboon mare – I Dreamt of You, is grounded in Jandai language, maternal lineage and Quandamooka storytelling. Created in response to State Library’s language collections and sounds from Country, his soundscape will play throughout the library during the program. |
| 1:00pm | Lunch on the Queensland Terrace, level 2 |
Community Conversation Space open Drop in, yarn and connect with practitioners, organisations and State Library staff working across First Nations languages, collections, research and community programs. Scan the QR code on the back of this program for more information about participating organisations and resources. | |
| 1:30pm | Curator tours of Through Mununjali Eyes: photojournalist Wayne Coolwell Led by First Nations Curator Serene Fernando, this tour explores a showcase celebrating the life and legacy of Mununjali photojournalist Wayne Coolwell through 5 decades of photography, story, culture and connection. |
| 2:15pm | |
| 3:00pm | End of symposium |
Keynote speakers
Common Ground is a First Nations-led not-for-profit organisation that uses storytelling, education and advocacy to amplify First Nations voices, strengthen pathways for storytellers, and build greater understanding and accountability across systems such as schools, media and public life. Grounded in truth-telling, reciprocity and justice, Common Ground works with communities to share knowledge in ways that support connection, challenge dominant narratives and imagine stronger futures.
Gemma Pol
Gemma is a Wiradyuri, Ngemba and Paakantji woman from a small coastal town on Worimi Country. She’s a freelance writer, support worker and the CEO of Common Ground. Gemma is a communications professional specialising in strategic communications and storytelling for social impact and systemic change. She sees storytelling as a tool to build movements that protect people and Country and is passionate about truth-telling and creating safe spaces for First Nations people to share their stories, their way.
Vanessa Morris
Vanessa Morris is a proud Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri woman, born and raised on Yorta Yorta Country and based on Wurundjeri Country. Passionate about storytelling, engaging with community in positive and productive ways, Vanessa has over 15 years experience across communications, digital and media in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Through this, she has established and led communications functions in First Nations community-controlled organisations and is also a broadcaster and host of Banksia on Triple R.
Speakers
Scott Wilson
Scott Wilson is a Gooniyandi and Gajerrong man from the Kimberley, his family ties are from Broome across the Great Northern Highway to Muludja Community, through to Kununurra and more. He is the Co-founder and Author of the INDIGIVERSE, sharing his language and stories inspired by his culture through the empowering symbol of Superheroes alongside a growing group of deadly creative geniuses. The INDIGIVERSE is all about the "Oldest Living Cultures, Inspiring the Newest Living Superheroes," with a focus on language preservation, and creating opportunities for all Australians to UNIFY and walk together with an understanding, appreciation, and celebration of our complete collective, longest living history of being on this planet and what is now known as Australia.
Gaja Kerry Charlton
Gaja Kerry Charlton is a Yagarabul elder and cultural custodian with bloodlines across southeast Queensland and the Gulf area of North Queensland. Her work in language repatriation includes the Wularanguru Historical Language Mapping project since 2007; “Languages of Moreton Bay” lexical handbook (2019); Judy Watson's Women of Brisbane (2020); Meanjin Papers 2023, 2025 and its Twenty Essays that Changed the World, 2024; a Language Fellowship at University of Queensland 2022 – 2024; a podcast Bloodlines to Country. Gaja Kerry completed a Diploma of Linguistics and Languages 2026. She enjoys working with community groups, educators and peak bodies on diverse language projects.
Corey Tutt
Associate Professor Corey Tutt OAM is a proud Gamilaraay man, advocate for STEM education, author, and Founder and CEO of DeadlyScience. Through DeadlyScience, Corey brings STEM tools, programs, and mentorship to regional and remote communities across Australia, helping inspire the next generation of First Nations scientists and innovators. His books, including The First Scientists, This Book Thinks You’re Deadly and Caution: This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles!, celebrate the deep knowledge of Indigenous cultures and encourage young readers to see themselves in the future of STEM.
Ella Woods
Ella Woods works with First Languages Australia on the First Nations Languages Education Program, which supports language communities to grow their capacity to teach languages in schools. She has career experience in leadership, business and project management and finance, and is passionate about supporting language communities to design and deliver projects that support their aspirations. Ella’s family are Kombumerri and Mununjali people from the Yugambeh language region.
Michael Passi
Michael Passi is a proud Torres Strait Islander author, cultural capability practitioner and emerging Indigenous cultural consultant with more than 25 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. For more than 18 years, he has delivered cultural capability, facilitator training and community engagement programs that support culturally safe ways of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Michael co-authored Geigi the Stubborn Boy with his son Elliot, sharing Torres Strait Islander stories with young readers. His work is grounded in storytelling, intergenerational knowledge sharing, education and respectful community-led practice.
Mayrah Dreise
Dr Mayrah Yarraga Dreise is a Yuwaalaraay and Gamilaraay woman from Southwest Queensland and Northwest New South Wales. She has worked in education for more than 35 years across school, university, state and Catholic sectors, including as a Principal on Country in Dirranbandi and Associate Professor for Indigenous Education at Australian Catholic University. Mayrah is currently Senior Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education at Brisbane Catholic Education, where her work focuses on strengthening cultural capability and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She is also a practising artist, Yuwaalaraay song woman and language teacher, and continues to advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, resistance, survival and self-determination.
Serene Fernando
Serene Fernando is a proud Gamilaraay woman and the First Nations Curator at State Library of Queensland. With a deep commitment to First Nations storytelling, cultural preservation, and community connection, Serene brings her lived experience, cultural knowledge, and curatorial expertise to every project she leads. As co-curator of the exhibition Through Mununjali Eyes, she has worked closely with Uncle Wayne and his dear friend Jo-Anne Driessens to help shape this powerful showcase that honours the life and legacy of Mununjali photojournalist Wayne Coolwell.
Georgia Corowa
Georgia Corowa, a Bundjalung, Innigai and South Sea Islander woman, is an acoustic singer-songwriter and performing artist based on Terranggee (North Stradbroke Island). Her soulful music blends powerful vocals, raw storytelling and cultural connection. A Matilda Award nominee, Georgia has performed nationally and internationally alongside artists including Xavier Rudd, Emma Donovan and Fred Leone, and is currently recording her debut EP.
Community yarning & networking
Following the morning program, the afternoon will open into a more informal community yarning space for networking, exchange and connection.
The afternoon will include opportunities to visit community exchange tables with practitioners and organisations working across language, education, collections, cultural heritage and creative practice including:
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland collects, preserves and shares Queensland’s documentary heritage, including significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections held through Queensland Memory, the John Oxley Library and State Library’s broader collections.
These collections include photographs, manuscripts, oral histories, maps, books, recordings, digital stories and language materials that support community research, family history, cultural heritage and language work. Through consultation and collaboration, State Library works to improve access to First Nations collections and support Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples to engage with materials connected to their families, communities, Countries and languages.
State Library’s work in Queensland Memory and the John Oxley Library helps preserve and share stories of Queensland while recognising that First Nations knowledge, languages and histories are living and continuing. Its collections and programs support language research, contemporary storytelling, community-led access and the ongoing work of reconnecting people with cultural knowledge held in collection materials.
First Languages Australia
First Languages Australia is the national peak body working to ensure the strength of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. We support a network of language centres, community programs and industry partners covering the whole of Australia, connecting language communities to share their knowledge, experiences, resources, and skills.
First Languages Australia is working toward a future where all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language communities have full command of their languages and can use them as much as they wish to.
Queensland State Archives
Queensland State Archives’ (QSA) First Nations Strategy team is working to make the state's largest and most significant collection of government records more accessible to Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Since forming in 2023, the team has been enhancing access to and discoverability of First Nations content in the catalogue by adding language names, cultural groups, and more nuanced subject terms to record descriptions. This work also includes improving metadata and identifying and updating outdated or offensive terminology.
Working directly with First Nations communities across Queensland, the team supports safe, culturally informed engagement with collections shaped by histories of colonial control. Their work is helping transform the archives from a keeping-place of valuable information into a space for listening and healing, where First Nations voices, knowledge and relationships are centred.
Ngutana-Lui Cultural Studies Centre
The Ngutana-Lui Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Studies Centre is Brisbane Catholic Education’s longstanding Education Centre, based on Yuggera Country in Inala.
Established in 1989, the Centre provides opportunities for students, teachers, families and community members to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, languages, histories, cultures and spiritualities.
The centre helps to create stronger pathways for young peoples and educators to connect with First Nations knowledges in culturally grounded ways. Through hands-on learning experiences, participants explore languages, storytelling, songs, dances, arts, artefacts, weaving, bush foods & medicines and Indigenous spiritual beliefs in respectful engagement with the living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Ngutana-Lui is the only non-commercial Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Studies Centre funded by an education institution within Australia.
It is a space where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing are respected, shared and carried forward.
Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) also promotes Indigenous languages in schools through curriculum support, guidance and staffing. Currently there are five schools the Diocese of Brisbane teaching an Indigenous language as a Language Other Than English (LOTE) as a core part of the school curriculum. Languages taught in BCE schools include Yugambeh, Wakka Wakka, Gubbi Gubbi and Yuggera.
Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum is custodian to significant Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific cultural collections that hold deep connections to culture, language, ceremony, technology, history and community.
Through its collections, research, exhibitions and public programs, Queensland Museum works to share and care for cultural material in ways that recognise the continuing knowledge, authority and connections of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Its First Nations collections include objects, photographs and records that speak to the strength, diversity and continuity of communities across Queensland and beyond.
Queensland Museum’s work supports opportunities for communities to reconnect with cultural heritage, explore language and knowledge held in collections, and strengthen public understanding of First Nations cultures. This includes creating spaces where cultural knowledge is respected, community voices are centred, and collections can support learning, truth-telling, connection and intergenerational knowledge sharing.
Highlights from 2025
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