Language - you have to use it, or you lose it!

We understand the huge investment of time and effort it takes to learn a new language, and the need to regularly practise your skills to maintain fluency. The ability of Australian Government officials to engage with foreign officials in their own language is a vital foreign policy asset.

For this reason, the Diplomatic Academy offers opportunities to all Australian Government officials to increase and maintain their fluency, across a broad range of languages.

Along with weekly language discussion groups, we offer intensive 1- to 3-day immersion courses to help officials refresh and improve their skills to engage at a professional level.

Language Discussion Groups

Each week we run 39 hour-long Lunchtime Language Discussion Groups. In 2024, you will be able to attend in person or online – ensuring even more officers can take advantage of this opportunity.

Check out the 2024 Lunchtime Language Discussion Groups timetable to see the list of languages we cater for.

Language Immersion Courses

Our Language Immersion Courses offer all Australian Government officials the opportunity to refresh, maintain, and improve existing language skills. Most immersion courses are three days and consist of formal and informal discussion, translation and interpreting, general discussion of contemporary news, print media and current affairs and much more. Take a look at Language Immersion Courses Timetable 2024 to see the course that is best suited for you. 

For more information

To find out more, visit Lumi, our learning management system.

If you don’t have a Lumi account, you will need to create one with your .gov.au email address.