In October 2025, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education launched an inquiry into the development of Asia capability within Australia including the teaching and learning of Asian languages, cultural literacy and regional engagement within and beyond the formal education system.

DASSH welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback in this inquiry.

Key points raised by DASSH members included:

• Language and international studies are at risk in Australia and this is fundamentally eroding our Asia capability along with other sovereign capabilities that ensure regional and economic security.
• The extensive skills, career pathways and opportunities associated with the study of languages and culture are not being communicated to prospective students.
• There is a major disconnect between primary, secondary and tertiary educators when it comes to the delivery of language and cultural education.
• The focus of public debate on vocational skills without considering sovereign capabilities, languages and cultural competencies is sending the wrong signal to students about the value of languages and cultural studies.
• Once language and cultural capabilities are lost in Australia we also lose a generation of PhD researchers and future experts. It is extremely difficult to rebuild expertise in this environment.

Our submission also detailed the extensive list of programs, activities and experiences facilitated by DASSH members which are actively developing Asia capability, cultural literacy, language learning and strengthening regional relationships.