BSA aims to facilitate Bible translation in key Indigenous languages. 

In 2025, the Pitjantjatjara Old Testament translation project will hold consultant workshops to finalise checks for 2 Samuel, Proverbs, and Psalms, with plans to publish these works as a single volume, improving community access to Scripture. 

The Noongar Bible Translation Project will engage the Noongar community in 2025, offering translated Scriptures, including the Creation Story and final checks on Matthew’s Gospel draft translations. This project integrates translation with language preservation techniques to enhance language revitalisation through new audio and digital resources, strengthening cultural identity and spiritual connections for future generations. 

Additionally, BSA will continue its partnership with Nungalinya College in Darwin, providing formal training for Indigenous translators. BSA’s support helps fund the Certificate II in Bible Translation. In 2025, the first two language groups will graduate, while the Kunwok Biniji group continues and a new Tiwi group begins. There are also plans for a Certificate III course in Bible Translation. 

Indigenous Bible translation projects in Australia significantly impact cultural identity and language revitalisation. Translators emphasise the importance of Scripture in their heart languages, which strengthens community ties and personal understanding of faith.  

The Pitjantjatjara Old Testament Project is now 55% complete, progressing at 15% annually. The team’s aim in the coming years is to finish this first complete Bible in a traditional Indigenous language, impacting over 3,000 Pitjantjatjara speakers and an additional 5,000 who use it as a second or third language. 

Meanwhile, the Noongar translation project has completed 60% of the Gospel of Matthew, with chapters 1-21 drafted in 2024 and key passages from Genesis and John’s Gospel checked. This effort empowers Noongar communities by providing access to Scripture and enabling them to reclaim and preserve their languages, fostering deeper connections to their cultural heritage and spirituality. These projects position the Bible as a crucial tool for reinforcing identity and restoring language, ensuring meaningful engagement with faith for future generations.