WHO WE ARE
Australian Bibles is run by a group of seven Australian Bible agencies working together to form the Scriptures for Australian Indigenous Languages (SAIL) collaboration.
We support Bible translation, Scripture engagement, and training with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. We partner with language communities to help people translate, use, and share God’s Word in their own languages. Together, we provide practical support, training, and resources, while building strong relationships and working in culturally respectful ways.
SAIL is made up of the following organisations.
AuSIL (Australian Society for Indigenous Languages)
The Australian Society for Indigenous Languages (AuSIL) formerly SIL, is committed to serving Indigenous language communities in Australia and Timor-Leste by means of Scripture translation, literacy, linguistic research and documentation, training, and the development of language resources. Their work began in Australia in 1961 and expanded to include languages communities in the Timor region in 2002.
Wycliffe Bible Translators
Wycliffe Australia was first formed in 1954 and exists to see disciples of Jesus growing through the Scriptures available in the languages that speak to their hearts.
Wycliffe Australia sends Australian Christians to contribute to the Bible translation movement in Australia and worldwide and supports the development of national Bible translation organisations to fulfil their vision for Bible translation in their own country.
Bible Society Australia
Our vision is to see all people engaged with the Bible in a language they can understand, in a format they can use, and at a price they can afford.
Since 1817, Bible Society Australia (known previously as the British and Foreign Bible Society) has endeavoured to outwork its mission through supporting the ongoing task of translating the Bible into the world’s languages, including in Indigenous languages and sign language (Auslan) in Australia. We provide free Bibles and Scripture portions to Mission groups, Chaplains of hospitals, prison & defence force as well as to Scripture teachers. We also produce Bible resources to help people engage with the Bible and we are the main publisher of Indigenous Bibles in Australia.
We are part of UBS (United Bible Societies), a global fellowship of Bible Societies in over 200 countries around the world.
Nungalinya College
Nungalinya is the premier Combined Churches Training College for Indigenous Australians. The College is formally supported by the Anglican, Uniting and Catholic churches of the Northern Territory and is situated in Casuarina, a northern suburb of Darwin.
Since 1973, Nungalinya College has been equipping men and women for leadership roles in churches and communities. Our training programs explore the Christian faith contextually through courses in Foundation Studies, Bible Overview, Media, Music and Discipleship, Faith & Family Wellbeing, Art & Faith, Chaplaincy, Christian Ministry and Theology, and Bible Translation.
Global Recordings Network – Australia
GRN is a leading provider of Christian evangelistic and discipleship audiovisual materials.
We bring the Gospel to the world’s least reached language groups, building bridges with words and pictures.
Since the inception of GRN International in 1939, we have produced recordings in around 6,500 languages. That’s more than one language every week!
YWAM Perth
Youth With A Mission is a global movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to presenting Jesus personally to this generation, to mobilising as many as possible to help in this task, and to the training and equipping of believers for their part in fulfilling the Great Commission. As citizens of God’s kingdom, we are called to love, worship, and obey our Lord, to love and serve His Body, the Church, and to present the whole gospel for the whole person throughout the whole world.
The Perth base currently serves Aboriginal communities in the Kimberly region and in wider Western Australia. They also train translators in their Oral Bible Translation school and have invitations to work with indigenous communities on Bible translation.
Coordinate
Coordinate is a project of NRCC and the Northern Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia and NRCC (Northern Regional Council of Congress) which is the First Nations Presbytery within the Northern Synod UCA Coordinate was established in 2006 by the Northern Synod to support Indigenous Scriptures with Yolŋu in Northeast Arnhem Land, Bininj and Arrarrkpi in West Arnhem Land, West Kimberley, and Anangu in Central Australia. The project supports Bible Translation into Australian Indigenous languages that are spoken in NRCC communities and congregations as well as Scripture in Use projects in these languages.
OUR MISSION PARTNERS
Bible translation in Australian Indigenous languages is supported by a number of Translation Support Organisations (TSOs). These organisations come from different Christian traditions and work together to provide training, translation support, publishing, and Scripture distribution. Many translation projects are supported by more than one organisation, with each contributing their own skills and experience. This value of partnership helps Indigenous Bible translation grow and thrive across Australia. We are grateful for the commitment, collaboration, and faithful service of the Translation Support Organisations listed below.
AIM (Australian Indigenous Ministry)
CMS (Church Missionary Society)
Diocese of the Northern Territory (Anglican Church)
FRM (Finke River Mission) and the Lutheran Church of Australia
GRN (Global Recordings Network Australia)
LBT (Lutheran Bible Translators)
MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship)
NRCC (Northern Regional Council of Congress – a region of the UAICC – see below)
PBTP (Pitjantjatjara Bible Translation Project Inc.)
RC (Roman Catholic Church of Australia and Catholic Mission)