Pertame People Launch Australia's First Total Immersion Indigenous Language Schooling in Alice Springs

ALICE SPRINGS — The Pertame people of Central Australia are making history with the establishment of Australia’s first total immersion Indigenous language preschool. In an effort to revitalise an ancient language also known as Southern Arrernte, the Pertame Language Nest is ensuring that children aged zero to five are raised in an environment where English is left at the door and only their ancestral tongue is spoken. According to reporting by ABC News on Friday 19 June 2026, the program is a direct fulfilment of a dream held by elder Christobel Swan, one of the last fluent speakers of Pertame. Her daughter, Auriel Swan, noted that while her mother is no longer able to teach due to declining health, the Language Nest allows the next generation to reclaim their identity. The program focuses on natural learning methods—singing, playing, and eating in Pertame—to recreate the way elders once learned on their country. Project coordinator Vanessa Farrelly stated that the organisation has now lodged its intent to register an independent school, which would extend the immersion model into transition or kindergarten classes by 2029. Ms Farrelly aims for the school to be a national leader, proving that total immersion is a viable path for First Nations language survival in Australia. The initiative is already showing results for families like those of Sashanna Armstrong and Shania Burdett. Ms Armstrong has brought her three-year-old son, Tyrique, to the program since he was several weeks old. With fewer than 30 fluent speakers remaining, participants say the school is essential for strengthening the sense of identity for young Pertame parents and children alike, ensuring the culture continues to flourish.