What is ELLIC?

English Language Learning for Indigenous Children (ELLIC) is an initiative of, and funded by, the Australian Government Department of Education. ELLIC is a free, easy-to-use digital language program that aims to build English literacy through a co-designed, pedagogically robust approach to learning.   

The program includes two engaging, play-based apps for children who are learners of Standard Australian English (SAE) as an additional language or dialect, as well as support and resources for educators, including offline activities and professional learning. The program ensures students’ home languages and the important role of families in developing language skills at home are valued and recognised. 

ELLIC is intended to achieve the following outcomes:

• build the English language learning of participating children
• deliver a program aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework EAL/D teaching practices, and the Australian Curriculum: Foundation to Year 3
• focus on Indigenous children and communities, their first language/s and culture
• improve digital literacy capability.

Co-design of resources

A co-design process has shaped the design and development of the program. Educators and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families influenced the resources as they were being developed. They worked closely with the ELLIC team to shape resources that would be helpful and meaningful for you and the children. 

Participate in ELLIC

In 2021, preschools were invited to take part in the program. These preschools helped shape the development of the program’s resources. 

Later this year the ELLIC program is expanding. Preschools and primary schools (Foundation to Year 3) in remote and very remote Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland will be able to apply to join the program. 

For more information or to get involved with the program, contact the ELLIC team. You can also find answers to Frequently Asked Questions here.