Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation

Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation (PAK), whose name means 'Home or House of Language', is an Aboriginal corporation and language centre based in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia. It was established in 1987 and registered with the Office of Aboriginal Registrar in November 1987. The organisation serves the Barkly Region, an area of over 2,500 square kilometres stretching from Borroloola in the north to Barrow Creek in the south, and from the Western Australia border in the west to the Queensland border in the east — one of the largest areas covered by a language centre in the Northern Territory. PAK's core mission is to record, revive and retrieve the language and culture of the Barkly Region. It employs speakers of the region's languages and provides a wide range of services including cross-cultural workshops, interpreter services for courts, legal, health and mining meetings, language courses, photocopying and publishing services, video production, and the production of dictionaries of regional languages. The 16 languages it works with include Warumungu, Warlpiri, Alyawarr, Kayetye, Warlmanpa, Wakaya, Mudburra, Wambaya, Jingili, Kudanji, Ngarnga, Binbinga, Garrawa, Yanyuwa, Waanyi and Mara. Until July 2009, PAK operated as a Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) organisation, and was unique as the first and only language and cultural centre in Australia operating a CDEP. It was one of the most successful CDEPs in Australia and was one of two organisations successful in obtaining tri-annual funding from MILR in 2009. The organisation is governed by a Board of Management made up of members from across the Barkly region, with a constitution adapted to enable communities to vote for representatives from their region or ward. PAK also operates a store selling clothing, accessories, books and guides, and runs cross-cultural workshops such as the 2026 Introduction to Country 'Cross Culture' Workshops. The corporation is funded with support from various sources and continues to promote employment and economic opportunities and training pathways for Indigenous people through its programs and enterprises, particularly in new media and multimedia technology.

Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation (PAK) was established in 1987 and registered with the Office of Aboriginal Registrar in November 1987. Its name means 'Home or House of Language', reflecting its role as the language centre in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. The area it covers is over 2,500 square kilometres, from Borroloola in the north to Barrow Creek in the south, and from the Western Australia border in the west to the Queensland border in the east — one of the biggest areas covered by a language centre in the Northern Territory. From its founding, PAK has aided the local community in all cultural and language issues. Its main objective is to record, revive and retrieve the language and culture of the Barkly Region. It employs speakers of the region's languages and services many languages. Until July 2009, PAK was a Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) organisation, and was unique as the first and only language and cultural centre in Australia operating a CDEP. It was one of the most successful CDEPs in Australia. In 2009, PAK was one of two organisations successful in obtaining tri-annual funding from MILR. PAK's Board of Management is made up of members from all over the Barkly region. To give all a say, its constitution has been adapted to enable communities to vote for people in their region or ward to represent the language speakers of that region or ward on the Board of Management. The organisation's vision is to record, restore and revive the languages of the Barkly Region and to promote employment and economic opportunities and training pathways for Indigenous people through various programs, enterprises and in particular new media and multimedia technology. Today, PAK continues to operate as a language centre and Aboriginal corporation, offering a wide range of services including cross-cultural workshops, interpreter services, language courses, publishing, video production, and the production of dictionaries. It also runs a store selling clothing, accessories, books and guides, and hosts events such as the 2026 Introduction to Country 'Cross Culture' Workshops. The corporation is funded with support from various sources and remains active in the Barkly Region.

• 2026

  PAPAK announced 2026 Introduction to Country 'Cross Culture' Workshops.

• 2025

  PAPAK advertised a CEO position in November 2025.

• 2009

  PAK ceased operating as a CDEP organisation in July 2009; it was one of two organisations successful in obtaining tri-annual funding from MILR.

• 1987

  Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation established and registered with the Office of Aboriginal Registrar in November 1987.

A community-controlled Aboriginal language and cultural centre dedicated to recording, reviving and retrieving the languages and culture of the Barkly Region, while promoting employment and economic opportunities for Indigenous people.

• Language preservation and revitalisation services

  Recording, reviving and retrieving the 16 Indigenous languages of the Barkly Region via written, audio, visual and new media technologies.

• Cross-cultural workshops

  Courses for government departments and corporate organisations outlining cultural differences that may impact their organisations when dealing with or employing Indigenous peoples.

• Interpreter services

  Interpreters for court appearances, legal matters, medical services and other government functions, conducted in conjunction with the Aboriginal Interpreter Service.

• Language courses

  One-on-one or classroom language courses.

• Publishing services

  Business cards, brochures, photo IDs, letterheads, booklets, promotional material and dictionaries of regional languages.

• Video production

  Video productions for language and cultural recording.

• PAPAK Store merchandise

  Clothing, accessories, books and guides sold through the PAPAK Store.

1. 1Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation | Preserving Indigenous Languagespapak.com.au
2. 2About Us | Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporationpapak.com.au
3. 3Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporation | Servicespapak.com.au
4. 4Papulu Apparr-kari Aboriginal Corporationwikidata.org