The 12-month MILE course is designed for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people who are registered teachers to advance their teaching skills in First Nations languages. The MILE course is categorised as an essential course of study under the Department of Education, Employee professional development including Study and Research Assistance Scheme (SARAS) procedure.

Job details

Master of Indigenous Languages Education (MILE) at the University of Sydney professional learning support

Benefits of Support

The Master of Indigenous Languages Education (MILE) professional learning support provides:

• course fees,
• 30 days Teacher Relief Scheme (TRS) funding for the employee's school to enable fully paid study leave to attend the six compulsory 5-day intensive course blocks in Sydney,
• costs related to travel and accommodation from home base to capital city (e.g. taxi fares / car parking / mileage) for departure to Sydney to attend compulsory course study blocks and 
• expenses related to attendance at the University of Sydney graduation ceremony including 3 days TRS, flights, accommodation, gown hire, cab charge and meal allowance.

Please note that travel from a capital city in home state, accommodation in Sydney and a stipend for meals and incidental expenses to attend the compulsory course blocks is organised through the University of Sydney.

Eligibility

To receive the MILE professional learning support, you must:

• be an Aboriginal person or a Torres Strait Islander person
• be permanently employed by the Department of Education and have current teacher registration
• have at least 1-year full-time teaching experience in a Queensland state school
• be able to travel to Sydney to attend six compulsory, 1-week, face-to-face, intensive blocks of classes over the 12-month calendar year from January to November
• have the support of your principal or supervisor to participate in the MILE course
• be eligible to enrol and accept a place according to the University of Sydney MILE course conditions.

About this course at the University of Sydney

The program delivers a broad knowledge of the linguistic features of Indigenous Australian languages as well as covering theories of language acquisition and learning. Fluency in an Indigenous Australian language is not required to enter the program.

Developed specifically for Indigenous Australian participants, the course is designed to improve your knowledge of Indigenous Australian languages and enhance your employability in the field.

To complete the Master of Indigenous Languages Education you must complete 8 units of study (48 credit points) which are delivered in block mode in three separate intensive weeks each semester.

Semester 1
You will complete eight units of study in linguistics, curriculum development and technology for languages education including sounds and writing, words and meanings, sentences and texts, and theories and methods in Indigenous language learning.

Semester 2
You will complete compulsory units of study in research methods, curriculum development, and the use of technology in language learning.

You must also select one elective unit of study which may include an approved research project, or the opportunity to undertake study in an Indigenous language as part of an accredited external language teaching program.
Duration The MILE course is a one-year, two-semester degree with one intake in January each year. Classes are face-to-face, on-campus, 9am-5pm in six one-week blocks held in January, March, April, July, August and September each year.

How to apply

Step 1:

• Complete the maximum 2-page Application Form 2026 MILE professional learning support
• Complete candidate agreement and principal's endorsement form
• Provide Evidence of your Aboriginality confirmation and/or your Torres Strait Islander confirmation

Step 2:

• Apply for course enrolment at University of Sydney, MILE, online by 31 October 2025
• Accept your offer from the University and provide evidence of your enrolment by email to LanguagesCultures.FNSP@qed.qld.gov.au
• Complete the Department of Education Study and Research Assistance Scheme (SARAS) application form [BS2] [BS3] and return to LanguagesCultures.FNSP@qed.qld.gov.au

MILE 2026

University of Sydney course applications close October 2025
Classes begin January 2026
To begin your University of Sydney application online, please visit:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/courses/courses/pc/master-of-Indigenous-languages-education.html

Further enquiries about the MILE course: please contact susan.poetsch@sydney.edu.au School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

Further information

We are committed to building inclusive cultures in the Queensland public sector that respect and promote human rights and diversity.

Documents

Before applying for this vacancy please ensure you read the documents below.

• Supervisor endorsement 2026 MILE support (Word, 26KB)
  
  
  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) MILE 2026 (PDF, 418KB)
  
  
  Application form 2026 MILE support (Word, 37KB)