Bible Society Australia (BSA) is dedicated to making the Bible accessible to all Australians, with a special focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. The goal is to enable Bible translation in every key Indigenous language requesting it, using both traditional Translation methods and Oral Bible Translation. Of the 415 Australian Indigenous languages and dialects identified on the Bible Society Australia’s Translation Roadmap only one has a completed Bible available — the Kriol Bible. This underscores the pressing need for more translation work to ensure Indigenous communities across Australia can access Scripture in their heart languages.

Bible Society Australia aims to publish Indigenous language Bibles immediately after translations are complete. The goal in publishing these Bibles and Scripture resources is to reinforce Christian foundations in these communities, and enable the non-literate, children, youth, and more engage with God’s word. These resources also provide support for hospital chaplains, community workers, local ministers and Sunday school workers. 

Bible Society Australia is leading innovative Bible engagement by working to produce audio recordings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scriptures. These projects address cultural needs by aligning with oral traditions, making Scripture accessible to low-literacy individuals, and enhancing spiritual engagement through storytelling rather than written text.

Each year, BSA distributes Indigenous Bibles and Scripture Resources to organisations and churches who minister to Indigenous communities around Australia, where access to Scripture resources is limited. In 2025, BSA will focus on overcoming remoteness challenges, particularly in regions such as the Top End of the Northern Territory, central desert communities, and remote areas in Kimberley and Far North Queensland.

Bible Society Australia is helping to coordinate the Auslan Bible Project, to make the Bible accessible to the Australian Deaf community in their primary language. Auslan (short for Australian Sign Language) is a distinct visual language with its own grammar and vocabulary used by over 16,000 people in Australia. To date, 4% of the Old Testament and 37% of the New Testament has been translated into Auslan, though the only two books we currently have full translations of are John and Acts.

The goal of this project is to Open The Bible to people experiencing disaster. By resourcing front line workers, churches, and individuals close to the situation with the Scriptures and gospel materials, they can engage and support people with God’s word. This grant shares the transformative hope of the gospel and equips gospel workers with both God’s word and the ability to encourage and disciple those they come in contact with.

Bible Society Australia seeks to serve and equip groups who are ministering to Australians in all areas of life by providing Scripture Grants which can be used to acquire Bibles and Scripture resources. This includes the Chaplaincy and Parachurch grant through which Bible Society Australia supplies Scriptures and gospel resources in English and also heart languages for people from other nations via chaplains and gospel workers.

Bible Society Australia seeks to serve and equip chaplains and Christian ministries who are working with the Australian Defence Forces, ministering to Australians serving with the armed forces, by providing Bibles and Scripture Resources through Scripture Grants. BSA continues to provide its current range of camouflage scriptures, ADF specialty books and other supportive gospel materials to the ADF.