Ketjeye Mangkem Pertame Ngetjek (Growing the Next Generation of Pertame speakers).
As we share our 2025 Annual Report, we want to take a moment to sincerely thank each of our donors for the many ways this has supported Pertame Projects over the past year.
Whether your support came through funding, partnership, advocacy, collaboration, advice, or simply walking alongside us and sharing our work, every contribution has mattered. Each act of support has helped strengthen community‑led language, culture, and education outcomes, and has made it possible for our work to continue with pride and integrity.
The past year has been one of progress, learning, and reflection. Together, we have seen important milestones reached, relationships deepened, and community aspirations continue to guide our direction. None of this happens in isolation, it is made possible by the collective commitment of people and organisations who believe in the importance of Pertame language, culture, and self‑determination.
A central part of this work is our Language Nest, a place where young children are immersed in Pertame language from their earliest years, learning through culture, Country, and the guidance of Elders and fluent speakers. Through the Language Nest, we are not only teaching words; we are nurturing identity, strengthening belonging, and raising the next generation of Pertame speakers. Because of your support, our Elders are seeing their dream come to life, as babies are once again speaking their first words in Pertame. This work is long-term and deeply relational, and it is only possible because of the support that stands behind it.
As with previous years, in 2025 Pertame consistently shared our successes with other First Nations communities across Australia. Last year we co‑hosted with First Languages Australia, a highly successful Fluency Transfer System conference in Mparntwe with over 100 attendees, as a result 25 Aboriginal language groups are now using the Fluency Transfer system and looking to the triumph of our Pertame adaptions and approaches.
We are building a recognised example of how to grow new language speakers as a thriving form of language revival. With your help, we will continue to openly share our journey to show other language groups that if we can do it, so can they.
Our Annual Report reflects not only what was achieved, but the shared effort behind it. We are deeply grateful for your trust, your generosity, and your belief in this work.
As we approach the end of the financial year, we warmly invite those who are able to consider supporting Pertame Projects through a donation. Financial contributions play an important role in sustaining our community‑led programs and ensuring this work can continue into the future. All donations are greatly appreciated and directly support Pertame language, culture and education initiatives.
To donate:
Direct deposit details:
Account Name: Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary EducationBank: NAB
BSB: 085 933
Account Number: 19 211 5207
Reference: Pertame
Please let us know once you have made a deposit be emailing us back and referencing that you have donated to Pertame Projects at Batchelor, so we can issue your tax‑deductible receipt and track our ongoing support.
Thank you again to Donors for standing with us throughout 2025. We look forward to continuing this journey together.
With sincere thanks,
Lee Causer, They/them, Pertame School and The Pertame Community
MORE:
Pertame School (PESC)
Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL)Desert Peoples Centre Campus, Alice Springs
Batchelor Institute would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereign people of the lands on which our campuses are located. As we share our knowledge, teaching and learning and engage in research practices within this Institution and/or conduct business with a variety of external agencies and organisations, we must always pay respect to the sovereign status of our hosts. May their Ancestors always be remembered and honoured, their Elders listened to and respected, all members treated with dignity and fairness — in the present and well into the future.
We also acknowledge and pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever with our hosts, custodianship of country and the binding relationship they have with the land. Batchelor Institute extends this acknowledgment and expression of respect to all sovereign custodians — past, present and emerging. By expressing Acknowledgement of Country we encourage all to extend and practice respect to all First Nations people wherever their lands are located.