I am cautious about that sort of argument - but because when we looked at the amount of demand for support under NALP and what we were able to provide, we were just a little bit under what we were being asked for. The Review stressed regional language centres as the key to developing language education projects. Approximately 200 people were consulted in the review. The Review found that NALP had begun to redress the serious neglect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and that the educational, linguistic and cultural potential of the program was enormous. They stressed, however, that language has a far greater significance than education.
Language is the key to a person's culture and culture is the very essence of a person's identity.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group also expressed concern as they were not convinced that the AEP was an adequate vehicle for ATSI language maintenance and development. Language involves much more than education as is apparent in the NPL endorsed by the Government. This does not mean that some NALP activities cannot be incorporated into the Aboriginal Education Policy.