Media Release

Minister to Launch MyLanguage - a Multilingual Gateway to Information

MyLanguage is a new web portal to more than four million information links in over 60 languages. It is the remarkable result of a partnership between seven of Australia’s State and Territory library services.

The Hon. John Pandazopoulos, MP, Minister Assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, will launch MyLanguage at the Immigration Museum on Friday 25 November at 11am.

Enriching Australia’s linguistic and cultural cyberspace, MyLanguage provides access to a range of resources including search engines, web directories, government web sites, online dictionaries, and syndicated news headlines – in more than 60 languages.

'MyLanguage harnesses technology and the internet to develop access to information and resources for new and emergent communities throughout Australia,' says Minister Pandazopoulos. 'I congratulate the State Library of Victoria and the other participating libraries on this excellent initiative.

'When the Bracks Government came into office in 1999 there was great concern within the community regarding the quality and provision of language services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

'Since then, we have undertaken to improve the delivery of language services. This honours the government’s commitment to providing quality and accessible services to newly emerging communities,' Mr Pandazopoulos continues. 'The development of both the health and justice translations directories is part of the Bracks Government’s broader Language Services strategy to improve the delivery of language services in Victoria.

'Through the delivery of quality language services, the Victorian Government aims to ensure that individuals from non-English speaking communities have fair and equitable access to services such as health, education, housing and the justice system.'

The MyLanguage portal is a joint partnership between the State Libraries of VIC, NSW, QLD, SA, and WA, and the NT and ACT Library and Information Services. The State Library of Victoria, through its Vicnet division, was a key player in this collaboration, bringing to the project significant expertise in the areas of web internationalisation and multilingual web development.

'Libraries are crucial as gateways to multilingual information resources,' says Sam Lipski, President, Library Board of Victoria. 'Language is no longer a barrier to information and we are thrilled to have been involved in this exciting project.'

What Launch of the web portal www.mylanguage.gov.au
Where The Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne
When Friday 25 November at 11am
Who The Hon. John Pandazopoulos, MP and Brendan Fitzgerald, Projects Coordinator, Vicnet, State Library of Victoria