ABSTRACT

This chapter examines Indigenous Australian perspectives on language education, by drawing on data from interviews with Indigenous community leaders that explore opportunities for Indigenous inclusion in plurilingual classrooms. It highlights the importance of language practices and competences to Indigenous Australians and the significance of the educational contexts in which plurilingual language use takes place. The author emphasises the significance to individuals of the educational settings in which they may (or may not) be invited to make use of their plurilingual capabilities. The chapter concludes that the plurilingual classroom holds potential for increased representation, empowerment and visibility of Australian Indigenous communities.