Course Catalogue

Diploma of First Nations Language Work (YFLW01)

2026

Course Structure

Two core units, IAS163 Introduction to Linguistics and IAS166 Language Planning for Revitalisation and Maintenance, provide foundational skills and knowledge in the domains of language structures of First Nations languages, and applications to community language planning.

Specialist electives build on the core units, and allow students to focus on particular areas of interest. Students can choose from three specialisations:

Language Revitalisation and Maintenance
Language Teaching and Learning
Yolngu Languages

A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 80 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.

Unit type	Credit Points	Specific requirements
Core Units (2 units)	20cp	Compulsory Core units totalling 20 credit points as listed below. IAS163 Introduction to Linguistics IAS166 Language Planning for Revitalisation and Maintenance
Specialist Electives (4 units)	40cp	Specialist Elective Units totalling 40 credit points from the units detailed below. Students considering further study in XFNLE1 Associate Degree of First Nations Cultural and Language Education should take the Language Teaching and Learning OR Yolngu Languages specialisations. Students considering further study in WARTS3 Bachelor of Arts should take the Language Revitalisation and Maintenance OR Yolngu Languages specialisations. Language Revitalisation and Maintenance Complete ALL 40 credit points from the units listed below: IAS264 Language Documentation Methods and Tools IAS270 Dictionary Making TES203 Language Teaching Approaches and Methodologies TES204 Understanding Language Acquisition Language Teaching and Learning Complete 40 credit points from the units listed below: ETL102 Introduction to Teaching and Learning LAL100 Language, Literacy and Sustainability EST202 First Nations Languages and Literacies EST203 First Nations Contexts in Learning and Teaching Practice EST211 Teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages in Schools (not offered 2026) TES203 Language Teaching Approaches and Methodologies Yolngu Language Complete ALL 40 credit points from the units listed below: YOL161 Yolngu Languages and Culture 1 YOL162 Yolngu Languages and Culture 2 YOL261 Yolngu Languages and Culture 3 YOL262 Yolngu Languages and Culture 4
General Electives (2 unit)	20cp	General Elective Units totalling 20 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University. You may take 2 general elective units, selected from undergraduate units offered by CDU, including units offered within the Associate Degree of First Nations Culture and Language program that are not part of your discipline area selection. When selecting electives, choose units at a suitable level. The first number in each unit code indicates the year level at which the subject is taught. You may only select units that are at 100 to 300 level. If students select the Yolngu Language specialisation and intend to pathway into the XFNLE1 Associate Degree of First Nations Cultural and Language Education, they should complete their general electives for the core units within that course.
	80cp	Total Credit Points

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)

See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.

Further Assistance

For further assistance please contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 (freecall) or student.central@cdu.edu.au. Student Central staff will assist you with applying for or enrolling in a course and provide assistance with timetables, fees, HELP (Higher Education Loan Program), external materials, enrolment changes and many other issues.

Unit Catalogue - provides general information about each unit including a brief description, the semester and mode offered as well as the fees for Commonwealth Supported places.
Timetables - provides information about individual class times for units offered internally. Timetables for the following academic year are published early in December each year.
Bookshop - if text books have been prescribed, recommended or ordered for units in this course, details are available by unit code through the Casuarina Campus Bookshop.