Carla Rogers is a community engagement specialist, facilitator, and program designer dedicated to Closing the Gap. After a Churchill Fellowship in 2001, she founded Evolve in 2005 and later joined forces with Aunty Munya. Blending Elder wisdom with world-class facilitation, she equips non-Indigenous Australians with the skills to become passionate and effective Allies to First Nations people.
Can You Speak Googaburra?
Why Aboriginal Languages Matter for Allies
This morning, Aunty and I sat down with a cuppa to talk about our upcoming Aboriginal Languages & Allyship webinar — and a curious Googaburra decided to join the conversation.
So… why “Googaburra” with a G? We’ll get to that.
Last Friday was International Allyship Day, and we’re still feeling inspired by the ways you, our Allies, show up. Over tea, I asked Aunty why learning more about Aboriginal languages matters for me as an Ally. As always, her answers were powerful.
Language is Culture
“Languages are all about culture,” Aunty began. “If you have the language, you have the culture.”
For Aboriginal peoples, language is about identity and asserting that identity in a society where we haven’t always been free to express who we are. Holding onto language is holding onto culture — and that means everything.
We’re One of the Most Diverse Multilingual Societies on Earth
Something that surprises many people is just how linguistically rich this continent is.
“We’re second only to New Guinea in terms of language diversity,” Aunty explained. “English in Australia has borrowed many Aboriginal words, and even the Australian accent is influenced by our languages.”
Our languages are full of fascinating features — multiple grammatical genders (including a “vegetable” gender) and specialised forms like the “mother-in-law language,” which reflects cultural taboos about who you can and can’t speak to.
The Story Behind “Googaburra”
The title of Aunty’s upcoming book, Can You Speak Googaburra?, was inspired by the 2017 NAIDOC theme song on languages, which included the whimsical line:
“Can you speak kookaburra to a snake in Tamarama?”
That playful question stirred her imagination and led to a deeper exploration of the heart and soul of First Nations languages.
So why the G instead of a C or K?
“In our languages,” Aunty explained, “there’s no hard C or K sound — it’s closer to a G. That’s why I spell it ‘Googaburra.’”
Why Aboriginal Languages Matter for Allies
Learning and using First Nations words in everyday conversation is more than just vocabulary — it’s an act of respect and connection.
“Our languages reflect the Australian environment — they are truly Australian,” Aunty said. “Speaking them connects you to Country, opens unseen worlds, and shows respect for the culture.”
She compared it to giving an Acknowledgement of Country:
“It’s like saying, I see you. I admire and respect you. For our people, who’ve been excluded for so long, that recognition is powerful.”
Join the Conversation
We’ll be diving deeper into these insights at our upcoming Aboriginal Languages & Allyship webinar.
📅 Wednesday 3 September 2025
🕐 1–2pm AEST
💲 $59pp + GST | Group tickets available
What’s an Aboriginal word you love to use? Share it in the comments — we can all speak Googaburra!
Join us for a Yarn
We invite you to gather with us around the virtual fire — a space to reflect, ask questions, and explore how you can walk forward with purpose. Together, we’ll deepen our understanding and take meaningful steps toward Reconciliation in a genuine, practical way.
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