University of Wollongong and NSW Department of Education make more of languages in Illawarra

There is a general recognition amongst language practitioners that learning of languages other than English is in decline and needs to improved in Australia. In his 2014 Adelaide Languages Festival speech, the former Education Minister Mr Christopher Pyne acknowledged this gap by highlighting the target set by the current government to have 40% of year 12 pupils studying a foreign or classical language within a decade.