NT | PESC | UPDATING | Community News | June 2026

[Edited extract from public address]

Seeing our work recognised in a national news story is something we can all be proud of.

I wanted to share this ABC News article featuring our Pertame Language Nest and our vision of becoming Australia's first total immersion Indigenous school.

• Read Indigenous language program aims to become Australia's first 'total immersion' school via ABC News, 20 June 2026
• Watch ABC News NT Video, 22 June 2026 (3 mins) 

The article highlights the impact the Language Nest is having on our children, families, Elders and community, and the importance of creating strong Pertame speakers for future generations. The story also shares our ambition to establish an independent total immersion school so that children can continue learning through Pertame beyond preschool. This recognition comes after years of hard work from many people.

 

I want to sincerely thank our supporters for the role donors play in making this happen every day. This program would not function without all the different support systems you provide behind the scenes. 

 

The success of the Language Nest belongs to all of us. Every child learning Pertame, every family reconnecting with language, and every step we take towards our school vision is the result of the collective work of our team, elders, families, and community.

 

Thank you to supporters for all for your dedication and for believing in this vision. I'm excited about what we can achieve together in the years ahead.

• Make a donation

 

Vanessa, Lee and the Pertame Language Nest Team

MORE:

Pertame School (PESC)

Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL)

Desert Peoples Centre Campus, Alice Springs

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Donate

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.

NT | PESC | PUBLISHING | Pertame School 2025 Annual Report | May 2026

[Edited extract from public address]

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.

• Read Pertame School Annual Report 2025

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 Education

Bank: 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.

• For other payment options contact
• To learn more

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

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Donate

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.

NT | PESC | PUBLISHING | Pertame School Semester 1 Newsletter | 2025

[Edited extract from public address]

Werta Pertame School partners, supporters and community! Arrangkerra marra?

I hope this email finds you all well

We have had a huge first 6 months of 2025, moving into our new Language Nest space, running our Language Nest and Fluency Transfer System programs parallel four days a week with 10 parent educators, and hosting the Yuchi Immersion visit and the Salish Fluency Transfer System workshop in Alice Springs. 

We have also run two school holiday programs and created a new nursery rhyme album. We are proud of the progress of our parent trainees, our children and our babies. We know we need a whole generation of learners to make our language strong again. We are also passionate about sharing knowledge and methods with other Language groups around Australia.

• Read our latest Pertame School Newsletter for Semester 1 of 2025!

Feel free to share widely.

A huge thanks to all our partnerships that make this work possible! We could not have done it without you.

Kela marra,
Vanessa and the Pertame School team

MORE:

Pertame School (PESC)

Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL)
Vanessa Farrelly, Arrernte Project Officer, 

Desert Peoples Centre Campus, Alice Springs
Tel: 0421 478 262
Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Donate

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.

NT | PESC | RAISING | Awareness, Support and Funds for Pertame School | June 2024

[Edited extract from public address]

Arrangkerra marra? I hope you are all going well, 

Pertame School (PESC) are excited to share our mid year Newsletter report for 2024, reflecting on and celebrating the incredible year so far of growing the next generation of proud Pertame speakers in the first total immersion Language Nest in Australia. 

 

Our Language Nest creates the one space in the world where our young children can be raised in their severely endangered Indigenous language through meaningful interaction with fluent Elders, family and community educators. We leave English at the front door, and fill our children's ears with their language all day. 

 

So far this year we held 67 Language Nest sessions and 15 after school program sessions for a total of 298 hours of language teaching. We have taught 12 Pertame 0-5 year olds and 32 school aged children, while employing 3 Elders, 9 young parent educations and 3 grandmother supporters. 

 

We have hosted First Nations visitors from across America, including Diné, Prairie Band Potawatomi, Cherokee and Bemidji Minnesota First Nations in our Language Nest. Then in return we have been hosted by the Māori people in Aotearoa, graciously sharing with us the most successful Indigenous language revival movement in the world, that all started with Language Nests.  

 

We have made significant progress on our on-country classroom build from the generous donations of our crowdfunder campaign. And now, we have just won a grant that will allow us to complete a fit-for-purpose building that will be a lasting legacy for generations of Pertame children to come.  

 

We have created a bush tucker garden, reintroducing important food sources and medicines of our ancestors into the daily lives of our children. Finally, we brought 65 Pertame Elders, leaders and community members together to create a united ambitious 5 year plan for where our language, school and community will be by 2030. 

• To hear more, check out our newsletter. 

 

We could not have achieved this without the beautiful partnerships and collaborations that support our work everyday. We thank you deeply for believing in our dream, and supporting grassroots community development work. 

 

Kela marra,

Vanessa and the Pertame School team

MORE:

Pertame School (PESC)

Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL)
Vanessa Farrelly, Arrernte Project Officer, 

Desert Peoples Centre Campus, Alice Springs
Tel: 0421 478 262
Website | Facebook | Instagram | X

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.

NT | PESC | PUBLISHING | Pertame School 2023 Annual Report

[Edited extract from public address]

Werta Pertame friends and supporters. Arrangkerra marra? You all well? 

2023 was a pivotal year for the Pertame School, in which we launched the first total Immersion Language Nest playgroup in Australia. 

We are proud to say that we are watching our Pertame babies grow, thrive, talk and play in their endangered Indigenous language. We have run over 100 Language Nest Immersion playgroup sessions providing wholesome meals, social development, health, fitness and community connection to 27 Pertame 0-5 year olds. 

We have run over 400 hours of complete Pertame immersion sessions, employing 13 young parents, 8 Elders and 10 Pertame support staff. 

Our Pertame children have proudly sung in their language alongside Paul Kelly. Our Elders and staff have travelled and exchanged with First Nations communities in the Navaho Nation in New Mexico, the Yuchi Immersion School in Oklahoma and the Salish Immersion School in Montana USA. 

Lastly, we have started the construction of our On-country Learning Hub - a permanent home for our language, on the land the language originated from. 

 

However, this would not have been possible without the backing we have received from so many generous supporters and partners who have believed in our Elder's dreams to see our small grassroots program grow. 

 

It takes a village to raise a child, and we thank you all for being a part of our village to gift Pertame babies their heritage language for the first time in 45 years.  

We believe that by restoring our Pertame language as the living, breathing spoken word of our community, we can rebuild the critical Pertame structures to heal our children, community and country.  We will raise our next generation of Pertame children as secure, connected and healthy people immersed within their language. 

We aim to create an intentional community, a village to raise our babies together, where we will maintain the highest standards of health, education, care and wellbeing, straight from our traditional knowledge.  

• Read our 2023 Annual Report and feel free to share the report widely. 

 

Kind regards

Vanessa and the Pertame School team 

MORE:

Pertame School (PESC)

Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL)
Vanessa Farrelly, Arrernte Project Officer, 

Desert Peoples Centre Campus, Alice Springs
Tel: 0421 478 262
Website

NT | GWS | RAISING | Awareness, Support and Funds towards Women's Shelter

[Edited extract from public address]

The women and babies at Galupa Women's Shelter are blown away by the generosity of donors. 

Thanks to support, they can now begin upgrading the tin shed, installing the much needed security gate as well as purchasing washing machines, art supplies and new mattresses. Stay tuned, we'll make sure to show you their progress along the way! 

But the women at Galupa do have one final wish.

Gayili herself shared how urgent it is for the Community to have a dedicated vehicle to pick up girls at risk of domestic violence.

"When one of our girls or mothers is at risk of violence, we need to be able to go and pick her up right away. It is really urgent that we can get her and any babies or children as quickly as possible to our safe place, away from harm."

As you know, Gayili is a highly influential Elder in her Community who has shown time and time again the pathway to safety. She is credited for turning the suicide rate in the area from the then highest documented in Australia - to zero. 

If you can support Gayili and the other women and babies at Galupa, they would be forever grateful.

The Community at Galupa was offered $3 million by the neighbouring mining company, Rio Tinto to leave their homeland. 

"If we leave Galupa we would be disrespecting our Lore and we would have nothing."

Instead, they are raising funds to STAY on their homeland and create a place of safety for women and babies. 

In addition to a donation, you have the option to purchase fine art photographs & Community paintings to support the Women and Children of Galupa.  

With your support Galupa Women's Shelter can continue its irreplaceable work across the region protecting First Nations Women and their Children, who like anyone else in this country are entitled to live safely and with dignity.

• For more information or to donate via Chuffed

NT | PESC | REPORTING | Pertame School Half Year Results

[Edited extract from public address]

Werta Pertame. Unta marra? 

We are so proud to send through our half-year update report on our activities, achievements and progress towards our goals on the first half of this year. Check out our Report.

We could not have achieved this alone. We are blessed with so many dedicated supporters who have generously given us their time, advice, resources, connections and backing to make our Elders' dreams become a reality. Every little bit of your support counts and goes a long way in helping our grassroots community project continue to grow a future where our languages will once again in the life breath of our thriving, proud and connected communities. 

Key highlights for 2023 so far:

• We brought together over 40 Pertame Elders and emerging leaders for our Elder's Advisory Meeting in March. 
• Two Pertame educators received their Cert IIII in Training and Assessment
• Pertame staff have travelled to Adelaide, Sydney, Darwin, Melbourne, Ballarat, Canberra and Brisbane to represent the program at various conferences, trainings and meetings, including the The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) National Summit, the National Directions Group on the International Decade of Indigenous Languages and The Closing the Gap National Reference Group on Target 16 on language and culture. 
• We have raised just over $100,000 of the $300,000 we need to build a classroom on Pertame homelands, to create a permanent home for the language, on the land the language came from. We have enlisted the help of the Fulcrum Agency, a social enterprise with architecture expertise that will assist us in the construction elements of the classroom.
• Launched the first complete Immersion Language Nest in Australia, modelled after the most successful language revival programs in the world.  
• We have 8 incredible young mothers and 12 Pertame 0-5 year old babies who are dedicated to learning their language and raising their children as first language speakers. 
• We have immersed our children in over 80 hours of Pertame within the Language Nest playgroup and trained our young mothers to become fluent speakers for over 100 hours. 
• We have a strong team of three Elder fluent speakers, 4 conversational educators, 8 young mothers, and 5 grandmothers that are employed by the Pertame School, gaining work experience, training and skills. For most of our staff, the Pertame School is their first time employed.  

Hear what our Elders are saying: 

"For me, I'm so happy to be with my relations to see the great steps the Pertame School has taken with launching the Language Nest for our 0-5 year olds and the young mums. It makes my heart sing to see it working and growing and hear our babies and mothers speaking their language. I now have hope that our language is not going to be lost, with the commitment the young mothers and children are showing" - Kathy Bradshaw Swan, Pertame Elder and Teacher

Hear what our young mothers are saying: 

Here are some of the comments our young mothers have made about the progress their child has made in the Language Nest in just 3 months: 

"I can see my child loves being at the Language Nest when we attend and is recognising the songs that we are learning. I can hear my child copy when I or someone else says things in Pertame at the Language Nest and at home. My child gets really happy when they hear their language" 

"I think the immersion part is working, I can see my child look at a person differently when they are talking Pertame, like they are understanding already. I love my child being around the language more because there aren't any fluent speakers around at home" 

"My son's development on our Pertame learning is improving more and more as we come. We try to use Pertame everyday as well as Pitjantjantjara at home"

"I enjoy coming to socialise with other family as well as learning Pertame. Its challenging but nothing can beat speaking your own language"

"Thank you for creating this opportunity for me and my family. Just remind yourselves how privileged you are to be a part of this, you have this opportunity to keep this language going. Some people don't have their culture or language and that makes them feel like they don't have an identity. So I hope this will go on for many years to come"

We look forward to continuing to work together for the rest of the year to honour the legacy, language and life of our Elders who have past and those who are still with us. 

Kela marra

Vanessa and the Pertame School team

MORE:

Pertame School (PESC)

Centre for Australian Languages and Linguistics (CALL)
Vanessa Farrelly, Arrernte Project Officer, 

Desert Peoples Centre Campus, Alice Springs
Tel: 0421 478 262
Website