About 100 highly-valued employees of remote schools across Western Australia's north could lose their jobs, with government funding running out.

Key points: About 100 Aboriginal staff at schools across the Kimberley are paid through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy

About 100 Aboriginal staff at schools across the Kimberley are paid through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy The Federal Government has confirmed it will be ending the funding in WA, in line with other states

The Federal Government has confirmed it will be ending the funding in WA, in line with other states Staff affected include specialised language teachers running classes for children in remote communities

The funds, part of the former Community Development Employment Projects program and later the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, have allowed remote community residents to work as language teachers, groundsmen and other roles to help support their children's education.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency, which is part of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, has confirmed the funding will end.

"Consistent with such arrangements in other states, the Government is transitioning out of these funding arrangements," it said in a statement.

Yiyili Aboriginal Community School, half way between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, receives more than $400,000 a year through Indigenous Advancement Strategy funding.

Sixty kilometres south-west of Fitzroy Crossing and even more remote, Yakanarra Community School's IAS money equates to about a third of its annual budget.

"It's such an enormous amount of funding and, if the Australian Federal Government can't offer that type of funding, I don't really see how anybody else is going to be able to," Yiyili School Principal Lewis Mulvey said.

"We have some of the most underprivileged children in Australia here in our schools and we need to make sure we have the best resources to support them."

Yiyili groundsman Leon Cox says the loss of Aboriginal jobs would force locals to leave the community. ( ABC Kimberley: Chris Meldrum )

Economic concerns

The jobs affected are diverse.

Leon Cox has been a groundsman at Yiyili School for six years, tending the campus and keeping it safe for students.

"That's the thing that keeps you going," Mr Cox said.

"You get up in the morning, you know, you've got a job to go to."

Both Mr Cox and Gooniyandi language teacher Frances Dawson thought they would probably have to leave Yiyili to find work elsewhere.

"I don't know what to do," Mr Cox said. "We're in a remote community."

For Ms Dawson, it would mean leaving a community she's lived in all her life.

"Probably go into town to do work, there's not much work around here," Ms Dawson said.

The schools are the biggest employer in many of the communities, including at Yiyili, raising concerns about the wider economic impact of funding cuts.

"If we're getting rid of these jobs, then I really would fear for the future of a community like this," Mr Mulvey said.

"People want to live here on country, support their family, and we need jobs for them to do that."

Frances Dawson has taught Gooniyandi language classes for three years. ( ABC Kimberley: Chris Meldrum )

Yakanarra School Principal Andrew Reed was asked by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet how he felt about affected staff operating on a work-for-the-dole basis.

"It seems unjust and unfair," he said.

Mr Mulvey also has concerns about the scenario, because he believes it undervalues the skills of Aboriginal workers.

Language teachers at risk

There is particular concern in the schools about the potential departure of language teachers.

"It's not fair," Yakanarra School language teacher Tiahne Vanbee said.

"The language and their culture and tradition, everything will just get lost."

Ms Vanbee teaches five Walmajarri language classes a week.

"It's important they know how to speak their language, because they'll find their identity and who they are," she said.

Frances Dawson is following in her grandmother's footsteps by teaching Gooniyandi language at Yiyili School.

"I feel good to teach them, to learn them, and hearing them talk in their own language," she said.

"I would say please don't shut us out."

Walmajarri language teachers at Yakanarra School say the classes help children to find their identity. ( ABC Kimberley: Chris Meldrum )

'A really poor look'

This year is the International Year of Indigenous Languages and the Federal Government has launched various initiatives to support it.

"On one hand here they are supporting Indigenous languages, promoting them, and on the other hand removing the funds to enable the teachers to teach these languages," Mr Reed said.

"It would seem to me that it would be the time where the Government could actually show that we value the Indigenous people of Australia, that we value their positions."

Mr Mulvey said it is more important than ever to hold onto the languages and encourage them to grow.

"If we lose these languages, we lose a vital part of this country," Mr Mulvey said.

"It's a really poor look."

Mr Reed said it was important to remember that Yakanarra was an Aboriginal independent community school.

"It's their school, it's their kids, they would like to teach their language here," Mr Reed said.

"The funds enable them, and should enable them, to do that."

Yiyili Aboriginal Community School Principal Lewis Mulvey says Aboriginal staff are vital to students' education. ( ABC Kimberley: Chris Meldrum )

Communication break-down

The schools said a lack of clear information from the Federal Government made planning for the future difficult and was stressful for staff members.

Although the National Indigenous Australians Agency told the ABC it had been consulting with schools to understand their concerns, the principals at Yiyili and Yakanarra remained uncertain about what was happening.

"My dialogue with PM and C [Prime Minister and Cabinet] has been grey area, to say the least," Mr Reed said.

Mr Mulvey called on Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt to provide some clarity.

"There's been a real lack of communication about what is going to happen," he said.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency said it was responding to the ABC's questions on behalf of Minister Wyatt's office.

Yakanarra School has launched a campaign with other independent Aboriginal schools in the Kimberley to save the jobs. ( ABC Kimberley: Chris Meldrum )

Hopeful, optimistic

The National Indigenous Australians Agency said it would reach out to Yiyili and Yakanarra schools "to resolve the matter."

It did not give a specific response to the ABC's queries about alternative funding.

Despite the worries they face, Mr Mulvey and Mr Reed remain optimistic.

"I'm really hopeful," Mr Mulvey said. "I think that people will see sense."