Ketjey mangkemel Pertame ngkethneng altja ingkerrinyekel ikerlt kaltj-nthemel nthakenh kngerripat nekel
The Pertame Ngketja Untja (Language Nest) is a immersion playgroup for Pertame infants and their parents to be immersed within their language, culture and community to create bilingual, culturally resilient, and community-connected children, ready to transition into further schooling. We will leave English at the front door, and create the one place in the world where Pertame language will be the dominant language. We want to raise our children as first language Pertame speakers once again, as our Elders were raised.
The Nest is structured like a playgroup, where all activities, routines, songs, games and instructions are given in Pertame only. Our Nest is led by Pertame educators and guided by fluent Elders. We often have multiple generations of our children's carers supporting them in the Nest, from their parents to their great-grandparents.
Nurturing and raising the whole Pertame child - ketjey arratj ntarneretjek
To give our Pertame children the best possible start in life, we must raise them strong in their enkga (spirit), mperrk (body), iterlentj (mind), welentj (emotions), npern-irrentj (kinship) as well as ngketja (language).
What: a total Pertame immersion playgroup for Pertame babes and their caregivers
When: four days a week from Tuesday-Friday, 10am-2pm
Who: parents/caregivers of Pertame babies from birth-5 years old. We will also accept expecting mothers.
Where: our Language Nest is located at the Desert Knowledge Precinct, in the Cfat office building
Transport: we have bus pick ups starting at 9:30am for babies and caregivers. Our buses are fitted with appropriate baby seats.
Our Values:
Ngetja rrukerl - Pertame language first
Nyenta-irrentj - togetherness, equality
Ikerlta tnartjek - standing strong, strength-based
Lhengaretjek - respect
Wemel netjek - listening, understanding
Kangkentj - kindness, happiness
Muntjel iterleretjek - patience, thinking carefully
Ntarnerretjek - caring for each other
Our Norms:
Nyenta-irremel netjek - we work together
Lhentera ngetja itja ngketjek, Pertame ngkaye - leave the white man’s language, speak Pertame!
Ketjeye tjeperr nem - the children are the centre of everything we do
Itja pura-irretjek, parla ngkemel. Ingkerrinyek kaltja-irrem - it’s a safe space to make mistakes, we are all learning
Nurna kngerripatek kungk-irretjek - we listen to the Elders
Nurna ingkerrinyek ntarnta-irrem - we all look after each other
Unta arriew irrpantjem, marra netjek - it’s a happy place, leave all outside worries at the door
Nurna ala-irrekel puk, relherretjek - when we get angry, we apologise
Ketjey nyentek-lhemel tnyenetjek - we treat all children equally
Nurna relha Pertame ingkerrinyek ntangkem - we invite all Pertame people in
Nurna ingkerrinyek ikerlt urrkapetjek - we all work hard and chip in
Pmera nurnek ikerlt tnyenetjek - We look after our homeland
We encourage all Pertame parents/caregivers/granparents to apply, no Pertame knowledge is required. We are all learning and we are all in this together to safeguard our language for the future!
We are taking expressions of interest for infants from birth up to the age of 5
After your application is received, you will receive a follow up call with more information. Acceptance is not guaranteed but we make every effort to offer enrolment to committed families in accordance with our capacity constraints. Feel free to contact us to request a paper version of this application or email if you have queries at pertame.samantha@gmail.com.
Contact Samantha Armstrong on 0447 048 120 or email: pertame.samantha@gmail.com
