Bible Translation Training and Workshops Australia

Project 8533

There are lots of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory who want to be doing Bible translation, but without outside support and encouragement, translation work happening in remote communities often gets stuck at the draft stage and doesn’t make it through to publication.

This project will train non-linguists such as ministry workers who are already living and working in remote Indigenous communities to come alongside aspiring Aboriginal translators, to encourage them in their work and provide support.

Further to that, this project will assist with the travel, accommodation and food costs involved in bringing groups of Aboriginal people, from different language groups, to Nungalinya College in Darwin for 1-2 week translation workshops. These are run by experienced translators and translation consultants who are on hand to encourage and assist the indigenous translators where needed. Experience has shown that a great deal more work is achieved when the translators are able to stay at Nungalinya College for the duration of the workshop. This is because it gives them the opportunity to focus fully on their translation work when they are away from the responsibilities of family and community. It also provides them with a bit of a break from the stresses of everyday life.

Partner with us

Budget target: AU$13,889 by mid 2024

Excess funds will go towards the following year’s target.

Scripture Material Distribution in remote Central Australia

Project 8534

There are many Aboriginal Christians living in remote communities, who have a great thirst for the Word of God, but very limited resources. These communities can be vast distances apart and spread across much of central Australia. This project is raising funds to assist with the very significant costs involved in driving to remote communities to distribute Scripture materials, offer encouragement, and fellowship with Aboriginal Christians. We see this as a vitally important long term mission. The costs that would be supported (to whichever extent donations allow) would be: fuel, tyre replacement or repair and minor car repairs/service.

In the shorter term (from 2024), a dedicated Christian couple with a heart for supporting Indigenous Christians living remotely, plan to dedicate 6 – 8 months of the year to meeting this need. It is our hope that this will become an annual mission, even if the people carrying out the work change.

English Immersion Leaders

Project 8863

Will explain later.

Photo by Hunter Haley on Unsplash

Nungalinya Indigenous Translation Cert.

Project 8331

Nungalinya College, in Darwin, identified a growing need to provide training in basic Bible translation practices to the new generation of younger and less experienced translators. This resulted in the College developing and registering a new course – the Certificate II in Indigenous Translation, funded collaboratively by Wycliffe Australia, AuSIL, CMS, Bible Society, and Coordinate Uniting Church NT. This entry level training is vitally important for the continuation and renewal of translation work in Indigenous First Languages, particularly of the Northern Territory. It is intended that many of the students achieving the Certificate II in Indigenous Translation will be equipped and encouraged to go on to complete further translation courses and to work as Bible translators.

Wycliffe Australia has a long and close association with Nungalinya College. It is the premier training body in the Northern Territory for Indigenous Christians, offering courses in Bible translation, literacy/numeracy, ministry and theology, and applied fields of art, family wellbeing and media/music. Students not living in Darwin are accommodated at Nungalinya College, and have meals provided, so that they can leave their communities for 2 or 4 week blocks to undertake their studies.

You are invited to contribute to this wonderful project just below. However, if tax deductibility is required, this is available through the Nungalinya College website https://www.nungalinya.edu.au/donate/.

Partner with us

Budget target: AU$16,667 for 2024 and $15,000 for 2025.

Excess funds will go towards the following year’s target.

Yolngu Matha Cluster

Project 8538

Yolngu Matha is the collective name for a group of over 40 related languages spoken in North East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. People often understand and speak multiple languages, but identify with the language of their family’s clan-nation. Two Yolngu languages have a New Testament, and some others have small portions, but many groups are keen to have more Scriptures available in their own language.

Funding from this project will be used to pay the wages of Aboriginal translators and cover other project expenses such as travel and accommodation to allow a translation advisor to spend time working with local translators across this remote region.

Partner with us

Budget target: AU$37,876 by mid 2024

Excess funds will go towards the following year’s target.

West Arnhem Cluster

Project 8537

There is a huge desire amongst Indigenous Christians in West Arnhem Land (Northern Territory) for Bible translation. Wycliffe currently has relationships with people from at least seven different language communities* in this region, helping them with the translation work they aspire to.

One of the big challenges at the moment is funding, particularly for travel between Darwin and remote communities in West Arnhem. Funds raised for this project will allow the local volunteer translators to travel to Darwin to spend dedicated time on translation work away from family distractions, and to receive training in translation methods, project management and other necessary skills. It will also enable a trained linguist and a translation consultant to travel regularly to work with language communities and help them progress.

*Current languages include Kuninjku, Ndjebbana, Rembarrnga, Nakara, Burarra, Mawng and Jabiru-Mayali.

Partner with us

Budget target: AU$26,833 by mid 2024

Excess funds will go towards the following year’s target.

Anmatyerr Translation & Scripture Engagement

Project 8335

The Anmatyerr people, who live north of Alice Springs, are looking forward to receiving extensive portions of Scripture in their language. This book containing 52% of the New Testament has been typeset and sent for publication. The next stage will be completing Genesis and portions of Matthew (more than 50%) within the next few years to produce an expanded version so that all the Gospel lectionary readings can be made available. (If not in Matthew, another similar passage can be read in one of the other synoptic Gospels.)

Making an audio recording of Luke is also planned. In this way, more Scriptures would become accessible online in both audio and written format, or on USB. Scripture Engagement may also include the production of music, such as Song Writing workshops and the recording of songs.

Funds are required for wages for Anmatyerr translators, and for readers who do recording, for their transport and accommodation expenses while staying in town.

Partner with us

Our partnership target for 2024 is AU$4,444.44

If we receive extra funds, this will go towards the following year’s target.

Ngaanyatjarra Scripture Use – Australia

Project 8336
The goal of this project is to provide Bible training for Central Australian Aboriginal people in Alice Springs, away from the busyness of home and community life.

These training times are an important opportunity for leaders in isolated locations to join with others as they grapple with God’s Word with the aim of deepening their Bible knowledge and their relationship with Him. The material is presented in English by experienced teachers. There is also some time given to English literacy with the objective of allowing people to eventually be involved in higher level study.

The closest Ngaanyatjarra community is 760 km from Alice Springs. This project will contribute towards paying transport and accommodation for four Ngaanyatjarra people for one week, twice each year.