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NSW Federation of Community Language Schools Gala Dinner 2019

Chief Guest; NSW Minister Hon. Victor Dominello

Prime Minister Hon. Scott John Morrison, NSW Premier Hon. Gladys Berejiklian and Minister Hon. Victor Dominello appreciated Great Services of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools Inc.
(Exclusive Coverage for Sada-e-Watan by Mr. Warren Duncan)

The NSW Federation of Community Language Schools Inc held Annual Gala Dinner 2019 was held at the Club Punchbowl Sydney on Saturday, 23rd Nov 2019. Mr. Michael Christodoulou AM was Master of Ceremonies who welcomes more than 800 guests.

The students of different schools performed live on stage. Ms Lucia Johns President of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools Inc Welcome all. Mr Joseph La Posta, CEO Multicultural NSW briefly speaks and highly appreciated Federation activities.

Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian AO, Chair Community Languages Schools Board NSW talks about the Federation Great work and performance of different Community Language students. Ms Jo Haylen MP, representing the NSW leader of the opposition. Later Special address by the Guest of Honour, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP who was representing the New South Wales Government.

PM Hon.Scott Morrison

The Prime Minister of Australia and leader Liberal Party Honourable Scott John Morrison, has told a large gathering of community-language teachers that Australia is not defined by a common ethnicity or background but by the “shared values of understanding, kindness and respect”.
The Prime Minister of Australia was speaking by video link to the annual dinner last night of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools which, he said, “does an amazing job teaching language to 36 thousand students”.

“To me that’s pretty special”, he added.
The Prime Minister of Australia Hon. Scott John Morrison told over a thousand guests: “Australia’s diverse linguistic capability is one of our greatest strengths. It helps communities connect and be informed. It links us to the wider world and, for many, it’s central to culture and identity”.
PM Hon. Scott Morrison thanked the Federation for its commitment to our shared values and for “championing the benefits of learning another language, for more than 40 years “.

Hon. Gladys Berejiklian

In a written message to the dinner guests, NSW Premier Hon. Gladys Berejiklian MP said the Federation’s work was “important because fostering community language not only helps to keep cultural traditions alive, it also aids cognitive development of students.
NSW Premier Hon. Gladys Berejiklian said” “The New South Wales Government commends the Federations and all its stakeholders – teachers, volunteers, parents and students - for their dedication to this vital work”.

President of Federation Lucia Johns

In response the President of the Federation, Lucia Johns, said: “I am delighted to see the strong support from both Prime Minister Morrison and Premier Gladys Berejiklian of NSW because strong leadership is necessary to promote the value of teaching community languages.

“Last week the Federation released a research paper - What are languages worth? Community languages for the future of New South Wales - which we jointly produced with Macquarie University's Faculty of Human Sciences Multilingualism Research.

“That research demonstrated that community languages are a means to economic, social and cultural prosperity”.

“It warned, however, that if we were to abandon our active community support for them we would be throwing away a valuable resource.

“The Federation will be spurred on by this finding and we will continue to expand and develop our network of language schools”, she said.

Syed Zafar Hussain and Minister Hon. Victor Dominello

Members of Parliament including the Minister for Customer Service, Hon. Victor Dominello, representing the Premier, community leaders and hundreds of community-language teachers who teach eighty-six languages across the state at community-run schools throughout NSW. All dignitaries said that Community languages essential to our future and Federation is playing key Role for promoting Multicultural and Community languages.