About Us

The Organisation

Community Languages Australia (short CLA), officially called AFESA - Community Languages Australia, represents all community language school state and territory federations and associations at a national level. Historically, CLA was also known as the Australian Federation on Ethnic Schools Association, which was changed to AFESA - Community Languages Australia in 2019.

The Council

Chairman

• Mr Tassos Douvartzides (Community Languages Victoria): 0414 414 800

Deputy Chair

• Mr Enzo Sirna AM (Community Languages Western Australia): 0419 945 357

Executive Officer

• Mr Fahry Abubaker (AFESA - Community Languages Australia): 0422 178 062

Secretary

• Dr Fuxin Lin (ACT Community Language Schools Association): 0419 541 336

Treasurer

• Mr Rafiul Alam (Ethnic Schools Association of Queensland): 0433 195 438

Members

• Mrs Lúcia Johns (NSW Federation of Community Language Schools): 0414 690 568
• Mr Michael Christodoulou (NSW Federation of Community Languages Schools): 0412 622 467
• Mr Fahry Abubaker (Community Languages Victoria): 0422 178 062
• Mrs Irene Bayldon (Ethnic Schools Association of Queensland): 0411 479 019
• Mr C.K Bharathy (Community Languages TAS): 0449 978 473
• Mr Kazi G Sabbir (Community Languages TAS): 0421 413 327
• Mr Mohamed Ferozkhan (Community Languages Northern Territory)
• Mr Brett Shuttleworth (Community Language Schools South Australia)
• Mrs Irene Rowe (Community Language Schools South Australia)

Our Purpose

Representing all community language school state and territory associations and federations, Community Languages Australia works at a national level to advocate and promote community language schools. It also works on creating synergies and standardization across Australian associations, federations and schools. CLA further supports these institutions in facilitating effective quality languages education, by providing resources, professional development opportunities and guidance to new and established communities. Collecting valuable data and supporting research also enables CLA to inform policy-making and facilitate research, further future-proofing the dynamic and highly diverse community language school sector.

• Advocate for the community language schools sector
• National standardisation and synergies
• Facilitate high-quality languages education and community building
• Support the establishment of emerging communities
• Research and future-proof the sector

Our Vision

Community language schools, in all their diversity, are understood as crucial institutions, providing safe and inclusive community spaces for purposeful learning. They are an important part of Australia’s highly multicultural and multilingual society, helping individuals to develop a multifaceted sense of belonging and identity, beyond national borders. Community language schools foster social cohesion and a robust, inclusive and strong Australian society, where different cultures and languages are cherished and supported. They form an integral part of languages education in Australia, alongside mainstream schools and other languages education providers.

Our Values

• United in diversity
• Inclusive
• Supportive
• Transparent
• Research-led