Toukley's Kooloora Preschool revives lost Darkinjung Aboriginal language

Australia Broadcast Center

11-05-2025

Students at a NSW Central Coast preschool start their day talking about their feelings in Darkinjung, the local Aboriginal language.
Darkinjung is the predominant First Nations group in the region, but the language was lost fairly quickly after colonisation due to its proximity to Sydney.
"It's taken a lot of research, a lot of hard work from people that have come before me to get those words so we can start learning them again," preschool educational leader Sharon Buck said.
Ms Buck is a proud Gamilaroi woman who has lived and worked on Darkinjung country her whole life.
Kooloora is a targeted Aboriginal preschool attached to Toukley Public School.
About 75 per cent of students identify as Aboriginal, but Ms Buck said all families appreciated the opportunity to learn language and culture.
Amber Clenton's daughter, Islah, has attended Kooloora since the beginning of the year.
She has started bringing the language and songs home.
"Our whole family is Aboriginal, so we love to learn the language," Ms Clenton said.
"It's one of the best things … sharing culture and opening it up to everyone as well, so everyone else can learn something if they want to. It's great."
She said it was an opportunity she was not afforded as a child.
"It's hard for me to try and get more information on my family because no-one wants to share it, but I'm glad being in here will help her learn," Ms Clenton said.
Arliah James is one of Kooloora's non-Aboriginal students.
Her mother, Kelsey, said she was benefiting from the Darkinjung language program.
"I just love how this school incorporates it [culture] a lot and it is not getting forgotten," Ms James said.
"I didn't get to learn much about it, and it's lovely to see that she's embracing it and they're enjoying it at the same time."
Bronwyn Chambers, who is a community elder and former chair of the Darkinjung Language Centre, said it was encouraging to see a new generation carrying on traditions that were almost lost.
"Children are our future in speaking language," she said.
"I'm hoping that one day our Darkinjung language might be our people's first language again.
"It's their right to have their language and it's been taken away from us, and now it's the opportunity to give language back, not just to Darkinjung people but to all Aboriginal people who live here on the Central Coast."
Ms Buck's commitment to restoring language has resulted in the preschool earning the highest rating achievable for an early childhood education and care service.
The rating of excellent, from the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority, is an honour Kooloora shares with just 10 other facilities in NSW.
"It validates that the service is a leader in our community and for other early childhood services, and that our initiatives are recognised and valued as making a difference for children and families," Ms Buck said.
The preschool is working with other local schools to share the localised Aboriginal curriculum.