The Language and Society Centre (LASC) is one of the research and development centres within Language Australia (LA). The centre's major objective is to conduct and disseminate the results of sociolinguistic research, particularly in the areas of language policy in Australia; arresting and reversing language shift; intercultural communication; models and sociolinguistic variables in second language and bilingual programs, especially in primary schools, and biliteracy.
This research builds on ongoing research at Monash. The results of research are presented in publications of the centre, and in specially targeted workshops and in-service seminars for parents, community groups, teachers, and others.
Consultancies and commissioned research are accepted in the areas listed above. Prominent overseas scholars are invited to the centre periodically to work within the centre.
The head office of LA is in Canberra. Its director is Professor Joseph lo Bianco. The executive director of LASC is Dr Heather Lotherington, and Professor Michael Clyne is the research director. The LASC office is maintained by administrative secretary Josephine Wee.