Australia risks losing Asian language expertise as student numbers plummet

Australia faces a looming crisis in its understanding of Asia, with student numbers studying Asian languages at Year 12 and university levels plummeting, according to a major parliamentary report. The study warns that Indonesian language teaching is on track to become "functionally extinct" within five years. In 2023, a mere 3.3% of Australian Year 12 students studied Chinese, Indonesian, or Japanese, a decline from 4.7% in 2012. University enrolments in South-East Asian languages have fallen by 75% between 2005 and 2024.

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Learning a new language just gives you a deeper understanding of the world. It also gives you good problem-solving skills that can link to so many other activities in the real world.

Labor MP Tim Watts, chair of the committee and Special Envoy for the Indian Ocean, described the situation as critical, noting that fewer than 500 domestic university students are studying Indonesian language. "The institutions that build Australia's Asia capability now face an existential crisis," he stated. The report highlights that only two Australian universities offer Hindi courses, and just 17 students completed honors in Chinese studies with language between 2017 and 2021.

The decline in Asia capability poses a significant threat to Australia's national prosperity and security, especially as Asia is projected to account for 53% of the global population and nearly half of global GDP by the end of the decade. Four of Australia's top five trading partners are in Asia. Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the report's findings were "worse than I thought" and stressed the need for a turnaround, emphasizing Australia's multiculturalism as a national asset for international engagement and security.

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Of the 1 million domestic university students in Australia, barely 500 are studying Indonesian language, fewer than when [Sir Robert] Menzies was prime minister. The institutions that build Australia's Asia capability now face an existential crisis.

To combat this trend, the report proposes 34 recommendations, including offering five extra ATAR points for students studying Asian languages. This measure aims to incentivize more students to pursue these crucial subjects, thereby strengthening Australia's connection with its increasingly important regional neighbors.

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It's a very challenging thing to turn around, but we do need to turn it around. Because ultimately we have a national asset which is we're a multicultural country, and we've got that capability of engaging with other countries, and that helps us be more secure.