NSW Federation of Community Language Schools

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-99825

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

NSW Federation of Community Language Schools

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (17:24:30):

I had the privilege of attending the official opening of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools 2017 State Conference, which was held at the University of Sydney in October. It is with great pleasure that I recognise the achievements of Albert Vella, president of the NSW Federation of the Community Languages Schools, and his team of dedicated volunteers. The federation was established in Sydney in 1978 as a not-for-profit organisation with the aim of uniting all community language schools. They work together to sustain community languages and to contribute to the multicultural assets of New South Wales.

The St George area is a multicultural and ethnically diverse part of Sydney with many different faiths, cultures and backgrounds represented. It is the work of the foundation that has proven invaluable to my local area as 250 member schools at 460 locations provide programs and courses in 57 languages to approximately 30,000 students. Members of the management committee meet monthly to discuss current issues and make decisions that will help to preserve and promote community languages in our State. Fostering cultural acceptance and social cohesion is important to me and to the people in my electorate. It is for this reason that I acknowledge and thank the federation for its work in the community.