In a vibrant celebration of culture, connection and community, Baler Primary School recently opened its doors for a Language and Belonging Expo, welcoming families and local organisations to support students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D).
Responding to a rise in EAL/D student enrolments, the school launched the expo as a way to foster belonging and linguistic growth for children navigating the path toward fluency in Standard Australian English.
For many, this journey runs alongside maintaining their home language and cultural identity, something the event sought to support.
The school grounds were abuzz with activity on May 27, as local businesses and service providers set up interactive stalls, offering families information about childhood programs, parenting resources and extracurricular activities.
Many families signed up for after-school and weekend programs to give their children real-world opportunities to practice speaking English in engaging, supportive environments.
“I had some lovely conversations with a few parents who were eager to talk about their cultural backgrounds and the languages their children speak at home,” Pilbara Community Legal Service team leader Victoria Malyk said.
“It was clear they take great pride in this, and those moments of connection were truly meaningful.”
