Volunteers from Rockhampton’s education and government sectors have come together to improve communications among family and community members and to keep cultural traditions alive by introducing ethnic language courses for all residents across the region.

Presently Rockhampton, home to more than 17 ethnic groups where 30 languages are spoken, does not offer ethnic language learning at primary and secondary schools like major metropolitan cities do.

“We’re on a fact-finding mission now trying to determine the level of interest among people of all ages in the community for such a program,” explained one organiser Rema Dhanasekar, a senior lecturer in Civil Engineering at Central Queensland University.

Remadevi Dhanasekar, from India, moved to Rockhampton in 1992. The language Tamil is spoken at her home, as well as English.

The classes, while held at primary and secondary schools, would be available for residents of any age.

“We know that Hindi, French, Fijian, Mandarin, Cantonese and Taiwanese (Chinese), Singhala (from Sri Lanka), Bengali( Bangladesh), Japanese and Spanish, are some of the languages spoken at a lot of homes here in the Rockhampton region and we think there’s a demand to teach those and certainly other languages,” added Ms Dhanasekar.

Many Rockhampton residents come from traditions where Scottish or Irish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, or Breton were spoken. A program like this could spark interest in learning those languages as well she said.

The ethnic language program is also linked to the Nurturing Migrants Project, a collaboration led by Rockhampton City Council with the CQ Multicultural Association and CQU. It is hoped that the language courses would encourage skilled migrants to move to the region.

“It’s important for migrants to know that they can integrate with the community without losing their own language and cultural identity. In fact we want them to share those things with us and teach us, ” said Cr Rose Swadling.

Classes, which would run on Saturdays, would be staffed purely on a voluntary basis and would require individuals from the community who can teach their native language. A minimum of 6 students per class/course/language would be required. And classes would only run during school terms.

Organisers are seeking comment from the community to determine what languages can or should be taught and what the demand is for them.

For more information please contact CQU organisers Rema Dhanasekar at 4930 9672; Helen Stewart at 4930 6577; or Lavenia James at 4930 9724.