The NSW government has announced more than $4 million in grants to support 74 Aboriginal language projects across the state.

This new funding follows the $3.9 million allocated in 2023.

NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris recently announced the funding while visiting one of the grant recipients, First Linguists, in the town of Brewarrina.

First Linguists, supported by the Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council, will receive a $15,000 grant to develop workshops aimed at revitalising and preserving the Ngemba, Ualarai, Murrawarri, and Gamilaroi languages.

First Linguists director Melissa Kirby expressed gratitude for the government's support, which allows the Brewarrina community to govern their traditional language space and helps develop more Ngemba speakers.

"We are very grateful for the NSW government's support to allow the Brewarrina community to finally govern their traditional language space," she said.

"The funding enables First Linguists employees to recognise and build the talent in a traditional language speech Pod with the aim to grow more speakers of Ngemba."

The state government's investment, through the Aboriginal Languages Trust (ALT), will enable Aboriginal people and organisations across the state to deliver events, initiatives, and projects tailored to their communities' needs.

Mr Harris noted that Aboriginal communities and organisations are playing a vital role in strengthening NSW's first languages for future generations.

"Aboriginal communities and organisations are delivering critical work to ensure the first languages of New South Wales are strengthened today, for generations to come," he said.

"Aboriginal languages are a core aspect of our state's cultural heritage that must be protected and celebrated.

"It's pleasing to see the diverse activity happening in this space and to be able to support Aboriginal organisations and people to be change makers."

In 2023/24 the Aboriginal Languages Trust offered six grant programs, including a new Educational Scholarship Program, which aims to contribute to the growth of Aboriginal Languages by supporting individuals to pursue languages training and education.

Projects the grants will support include:

Warren Performing Arts and Language Place Incorporated will record four original songs in the Wayilwan Language and deliver Community Language workshops at Warren in central-west NSW.

Walhallow Local Aboriginal Land Council near Tamworth will create an animation to tell the Dreamtime story of Yurrandaali, the main totem for Aboriginal people of the Liverpool Plains.

Elders will deliver on country language workshops for Aboriginal young people on Bundjalung Land in northern NSW.

Leeton and District Local Aboriginal Land Council will create four 360-degree interactive videos filmed on country and digitally animated to explore a world using Wiradyuri/Wiradjuri Language in 3D.

Newara Aboriginal Corporation will employ an Anaiwan Language Project Officer and Facilitator, a role vital to supporting Newara as the primary Language organisation and hub for the Anaiwan community in Armidale.

Winangakirri Aboriginal Corporation will employ two Language support workers, a contract Linguist and Archivist, to develop Language learning materials for Community use.

And Blake Cusack will be one of six recipients of the Aboriginal Languages Education Scholarship Program. Mr Cusack currently works full time as a Gumbaynggirr language teacher at Gumbaynggirr Giigana Freedom School in Coffs Harbour.

Gamilaroi and Dhungutti woman and Executive Director of the Aboriginal Languages Trust, Clare McHugh, noted that growing engagement from community organisations shows the funding is boosting activities and programs that strengthen Aboriginal languages across NSW.

"Increased engagement by new and returning community organisations demonstrates that funding is leading to a proliferation of activities and programs across NSW that are strengthening Aboriginal languages," she said.

"Each community has their own Language needs and priorities, and their own timeline.

"This year we're really seeing the positive impact of sustained support for communities, with languages going from strength to strength in numerous regions."

Aboriginal organisations and groups in NSW can now apply for grants to host events and activities for NSW Aboriginal Languages Week 2024, running from 20 to 27 October, with applications open until 6 September 2024.

Grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are available for initiatives such as community events, exhibitions, language classes, and workshops celebrating Aboriginal languages across the state.