Across Oceania, over 1,300 Indigenous languages are spoken, many of them here in Australia by vibrant Pasifika communities. But too often, these voices are overlooked.

According to the 2021 Census, nearly 28% of Australians were born overseas and over 50% have at least one parent born overseas. This makes us one of the most multicultural nations in the world. Compare that with the UK, where 16% of people were born overseas, or the US, where the figure sits at 15.8%. Yet, despite this rich tapestry of backgrounds, our linguistic diversity tells a different story.  If we are serious about being part of our region, we must not only hear these languages but support and celebrate them.

A Multicultural Nation with Monolingual Tendencies

One in five Australians speaks a language other than English at home. Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Punjabi are among the most common. But when it comes to actively learning another language, only 8.6% of Australians are doing so. This is strikingly low compared to the European Union, where 96.8% of upper secondary students graduate with at least one foreign language and 71% with two or more.

In the EU, multilingualism is not just encouraged. It’s embedded in education policy, cultural identity and workplace readiness. In contrast, Australia’s geographic isolation and lack of land borders have contributed to a kind of linguistic insularity. In addition to European, Asian, Latin, African and Indigenous languages, many people in Australia speak one or more languages of our closest neighbours.

Oceania, Our Neighbours, Our Opportunity

Despite our Eurovision ambitions, Australia isn’t European. And while we’re close to Asia, we aren’t Asian. We are part of Oceania, a region that many Australians struggle to define, let alone locate on a map.

Oceania is made up of thousands of islands across the Central and South Pacific. It includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the island regions of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. These communities are not just geographically close, they are linguistically connected.

Spoken across Oceania are languages from three major families; Austronesian, Australian Aboriginal and Papuan, which make up 25% of the world’s linguistic richness. But this incredible diversity is under threat, with many languages at risk of being lost as English dominates younger generations.

Pasifika Languages in Australia, Who Speaks What?

Pasifika communities in Australia come from a diverse range of linguistic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds that are Indigenous to the Pacific Island states and territories, representing over 20 distinct ethnic backgrounds. There are approximately 415,033 people of Pasifika background living in Australia, which represents a significant increase from 165,000 in 2011. This places the Pasifika population at 1.6% of the total Australian population, reflecting the increasing contributions and challenges faced by these communities in education, employment and community life. Queensland, with a population of 147,928 and NSW with 133,475, are the states with the highest numbers of Pasifika communities.

Linguistic Challenges, Barriers to Belonging

It is often taken for granted and assumed that Pasifika communities Pasifika communities in Australia speak English well, and there is a general lack of awareness about the critical need for highly skilled and certified translators and interpreters. This creates real barriers in healthcare, legal settings and other essential services.

Pasifika communities face several linguistic challenges, including:

Interpreter Shortages

• Critical shortage of qualified interpreters for Pasifika languages. The FECCA Languages Report highlights limited training for interpreters in new and emerging languages like Samoan, Tongan and Tok Pisin.
• Limited NAATI accreditation pathways due to the lack of tertiary training programs.

Translator Shortages

• Pacific languages often fall into “niche” categories, with fewer training and certification opportunities.
• Many states, including Victoria, have little to no accessible training for Pasifika translators.

Language Loss Across Generations

• Many young Pasifika Australians grow up speaking only English, leading to intergenerational language decline.

Mental Health and Identity

• Language loss is linked to disconnection, displacement and cultural isolation, especially for youth and elders.

Closing these gaps requires coordinated action. At Polaron Connect, we train, mentor and connect Pasifika interpreters and translators so communities aren’t left behind.

Revitalising Languages, A Movement of Hope

Across Oceania, Indigenous communities have led language revitalisation since the 1970s through immersion schools, radio programs and university courses. In Australia, community-led translation projects are helping to reclaim Pasifika linguistic heritage.

At Polaron Connect, we work alongside Pasifika communities to co-create multilingual resources, support interpreters and advocate for language inclusion.

A Call to Action

If we are serious about being part of Oceania, we must do more than acknowledge our neighbours, we must learn from them. We must invest in language education, support community-led revitalisation and celebrate the linguistic richness that surrounds us.

Pasifika communities are vibrant, resilient contributors to Australian society. But systemic inequities persist. The survival of Pasifika languages and cultures depends on what we do today.

At Polaron Connect, we have supported Pasifika communities through initiatives including digital device donations, financial and in-kind support for cultural and sporting events, and mentoring interpreters and translators in languages such as Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Tok Pisin, Bislama, Pidgin, Nauruan, Tuvaluan, Kiribati and Niuean.

Through UpCov, we’ve been honoured to work with Fijian, Samoan, Tuvaluan and Kiribati organisations, as well as broader Pasifika events. We encourage you to learn more about their inspiring work here: https://www.upcov.org/

If your organisation believes in the importance of connecting with our Pasifika neighbours, Polaron Connect is here to help. We provide language services and create opportunities to engage with communities in respectful, authentic and impactful ways. By working together, we can protect cultural heritage, celebrate diversity and build authentic opportunities that honour traditions while shaping a stronger future.

About the Author
Eva Hussain is the Founder and Director of Polaron Connect, as well as the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Austria in Victoria, Australia. A NAATI Certified Translator and Interpreter, Eva has spent her career breaking down language barriers and fostering genuine connections across cultures. She also contributes her expertise as a board member of the Victorian Refugee Health Network, the Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT), and the Association of Polish Jews, working closely with communities to support inclusion, cultural understanding, and the preservation of linguistic heritage. Guided by her experience and passion for cultural connection, Eva’s perspective informs this exploration of Australia’s linguistic landscape and the vital role of Pasifika languages.

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