We share stories from the Mobile Language Team at Adelaide University and the communities we work with across South Australia. Each episode highlights language projects, community voices, and the work being done to strengthen, revive, and reawaken Aboriginal languages. Through conversations with language workers, educators, and community members, we explore how language connects people, culture, and Country.
This episode of Nganampa Wangka: Stories from the Mobile Language Team takes you behind the scenes of language work across South Australia.
Meet the people leading and delivering language work across South Australia and hear how it all began.
In this episode, Yankunytjatjara woman and co-manager of the Mobile Language Team, Karina Lester discusses the United Nations International Decade of Indigenous Languages and how it’s shaping Aboriginal language work across South Australia.
The conversation explores community-led language revival, bilingual education, and ongoing advocacy for stronger recognition and protection of Aboriginal languages.
This episode highlights the ongoing effort to strengthen, celebrate, and keep Aboriginal languages alive for future generations through collaboration between communities, linguists, and government.
The Nganampa Wangka raido show aired up to October 2025 and talked about South Australian Aboriginal languages and what we do to maintain, revive and reclaim them.
Catch episodes of Nganampa Wangka below and listen to some great Aboriginal interviews, news pieces and music.
Catch up on this segment produced by CBAA and explore the importance of language and the concept of ‘what does ‘justice’ even mean if no one speaks your language?’
“It’s a human right to have an interpreter… and so important because language is so much bigger than just a way of communication, it’s about culture and about land and about your ancestral stories or Yankunytjatjara mob use the term Wapar, but it just unlocks all of that through your knowledge of your language and it’s identity” -Karina Lester
This radio story was originally produced by the CBAA’s National Features and Documentary Series and financially supported by the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
Listen to the latest episode by clicking the link above. Karina Lester hosts this week’s shows.
Catch up on interviews with influential Aboriginal artists, language warriors and visionaries on the Nganampa Wangka show
MLT Co-Manager and Senior Language Worker Karina Lester shares her reflections on the new Closing the Gap Agreement on ABC Radio Adelaide. Interview courtesy of ABC Radio Adelaide.
Catch up with Karina and Lakota discussing the Black Lives Matter movement
Nganampa Wangka host Anil Samy catches up with Natasha Wanganeen (pictured) to discuss her work as an actor, producer and writer.
She is an AFI winning actress and is best known for her roles in Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), Jessica (2004), Redfern Now (2014), Secret River (2015), Cargo (2017), Stormboy (2018), Bunker the last fleet (2019), Ranger (2019), 2067 (2018) and Dic & Lucy (2019).
Karina Lester catches up with Tapaya Edwards (pictured, right) to discuss traditional fire management practices. Karina and Tapaya speak Pitjantjatjara language throughout, with Karina providing translations.