Our Projects

Revival languages come from the ancient past but are re-created into something new for the future of Aboriginal people. We are investigating what these languages are actually like, in the present, after all the work people have done on researching past records and Elders’ memories, making community decisions about things like shared words, spelling and

VACL is delighted to announce the launch of six new digital language resources for the Gunditjmara language groups in south west Victoria. The Laka Gunditj Language Program, together with VACL, have produced six interactive digital storybooks in three Gunditjmara languages featuring local stories, artists and narrative voices. Designed by Kiwa Digital for children of all

VACL is pleased to announce the commencement of a new project to produce innovative digital audio-visual resources to support language reclamation and revitalisation activities in Victorian schools and communities. The project will be undertaken in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI), Traditional Owner Groups and three schools currently teaching Aboriginal Languages as

VACL is proud to announce the commencement of a project which will see the six Gunnai/Kurnai Story Books converted into interactive digital storybook apps. QBook is a range of interactive storybooks designed by Kiwa Digital for children of all ages. QBook uses iPad and iPhone to bring stories to life in a huge range of

The Shearwaters are celebrated as symbols of local and global interconnectedness. This year, the Shearwater Festival focussed on ‘Connecting to Country’ providing opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture and the environment and to develop a deeper understanding of place. The festival took place on 25, 26 and 27 of November in various locations across Phillip

The Boon Wurrung word for the short-tailed shearwater is Biyadin. The bird is also known as Yolla, Muttonbird, Moonbird and Ardenna Tenuirostris. The shearwaters have deep cultural significance for the Boon Wurrung people, having brought the community together for thousands of years for feasts, gatherings and ceremonies, on what is now called Phillip Island. The

One million shearwaters have their rookeries on Phillip Island and they fly 15,000 kilometres in their annual migration from Bass Strait in the Southern Ocean to the Bering Sea in the Northern Pacific. The short-tailed shearwater is celebrated as a symbol of creative, cultural and environmental interconnectedness. The third Shearwater Festival held on Phillip Island

On Saturday 23rd November 2013, at the Woolamai Surf Life Saving Club, the second Shearwater Festival was held, bringing the community together to celebrate the return of the shearwater birds. The gathering included musicians, school children, sound artists, acoustic ecologists and members of the Aboriginal community, including linguists, Elders and Traditional Owners. The Shearwater Soundfest