Please download the Registration Information document for Deaf Australia's 2nd National Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration to be held in Hobart, Tasmania 13 to 15 May 2011. The Conference program will be as follows:
Friday 13 May Conference Day 1 and/or River Cruise (evening)
Saturday 14 May Conference Day 2 and/or Conference Dinner (evening)
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Community Consultations
Dear Members, Supporters and Friends & Deaf Community,
There is an inquiry into National Disability Insurance Scheme - it is a proposal of an idea to provide people with a disability with entitlements to care and support, therapy, aids and equipment, home modifications and access to the community, education and training.
If you think the system needs to be improved, then this is your chance to tell us what is important. You can attend Deaf Australia community consultation, register your interest or email to Productivity Commission. More information at ... Productivity Commission website
Call for Papers / Presentations for the Deaf Australia Inc 2nd National Conference Hobart 13 - 15 May 2011
The Call for Papers for Deaf Australia's 2nd National Conference 13-15 May 2011 in Hobart is closing soon!
This will be a unique Conference. Mr Markku Jokinen, President of World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) will be the Keynote Presenter. On Sunday 15 May 2011 will be a "Professional Development Day", with strands for various interest groups - e.g. Deaf Professionals, Auslan Teachers, interpreters, educators, service providers.
If you have been receiving our emails and media releases, you will have heard about the ICED Vancouver 2010 Statement calling for the inclusion of sign languages in the education of deaf people.
This is a very important and historic statement for deaf people, and it is hoped that it will lead to positive changes in the education of deaf people and their participation in society.
Deaf Australia has now endorsed the statement - please see the attached open letter from our President, which has been sent to the ICED 2010 Conference Chair.
Employment can you give us information about your experiences?
On 29th July Deaf Australia is attending a National Employment Forum with other disability peak organisations, government and employers. The forum will talk about barriers to employment for people with disability and how to remove them.
Deaf Australia already knows quite a lot about the barriers to employment for Deaf and hard of hearing people, but if there is anything youd like to tell us, wed love to hear from you.
We also have quite a lot of information about how to solve barriers, but again, if there is anything youd like to tell us, wed love to hear from you. We would especially like to hear your stories about how problems have been solved at your work.
We also especially would like to hear from people who have used an employment service in the past 12 months. Employment services have recently changed. Are they better now? In what way? Are they worse? In what way? Are they the same? We really need information about this and would appreciate our members telling us what they can about this. I hope many members will send me information. We will appreciate it very much, and it will help us to represent your interests better to government and employers.
Many thanks,
Karen Lloyd AM
Executive Officer
Deaf Australia Inc.
Posted on 24th July 2010
Big step forward for cinema access
Deaf Australia is delighted with todays announcement of a new plan to make the major cinema
chains accessible for Deaf and hard of hearing people and blind and vision impaired people.
The plan to introduce captioning and audio description into every one of the 132 cinema complexes
run by the four major cinema chains (Village, Hoyts, Event Cinemas and Reading) was announced
by the Hon. Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Childrens Services, at a
launch function in Sydney 17th July.
Call for Papers / Presentations for the Deaf Australia Inc 2nd National Conference Hobart 13 - 15 May 2011
Deaf Australia invites submissions for papers/presentations that explore the conference theme and sub-themes at its 2nd National Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration to be held in Hobart, Tasmania, 13 15 May 2011.
The conference theme is inspired by the song, From Little Things Big Things Grow, which tells a story of struggle, determination and triumph that could well be adapted to the experiences of the Australian Deaf Community.
Deaf Australia is pleased to announce that Mr Markku Jokinen, President of the World Federation of the Deaf, will be the Conference Keynote Presenter.
Sponsorship & Promotions Package - Deaf Australia Inc 2nd National Conference Hobart 13 - 15 May 2011
The Conference will be fully accessible with Auslan interpreting and realtime captioning. It is for
everyone. Deaf and hard of hearing people, family and friends, service providers and policy makers.
Your organisation/company is invited to support this Conference and promote your service. Deaf Australia
offers you a range of sponsorship and promotion opportunities. Please download the following documents about sponsorship and promotion opportunities.
Deaf Australia provides Auslan Short Courses (ASC) for Queensland state school staff. The ASC program is a very small part of a $30m transition from Signed English to Auslan program in Queensland schools. The ASC are different to other Auslan courses taught by TAFE etc for example. Read more...
Deaf Australia is delighted with todays announcement that the Australian Government will establish
an SMS emergency service for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
The move was announced by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital
Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy in an address to the CommsDay Summit in Sydney.
Deaf Australia Inc, the peak body of and for Deaf people in Australia, has established a Supporters Group - for Deaf people, hard of hearing people, hearing people and organisations.
If you are not already a member, or you are thinking about becoming a member but would like to know more about Deaf Australia to help you decide, or if you would just like to show that you support us, Deaf Australia Inc invites you to become a supporter of Deaf Australia Inc. There is no fee to become a supporter.
A compact is an agreement between the Government
and the Third Sector. The Third Sector is the name given to all the nongovernment
groups that work in the community. Visit National Compact website.
Some of the groups who work in the Third Sector include:
Charities
Churches, temples and mosques
Clubs and associations
Unions
Other groups of people working together.
The Compacts shared principles provide a
foundation for action to improve working
relationships, strengthen Sector viability and
develop and deliver better policy and programs.
Deaf Australia responds to Deafness Forum's Auslan Questionnaire!
Auslan as an official language YES, Deaf people want it!
Deaf Australia calls on Deafness Forum to withdraw its current discussion paper and questionnaire on whether Deaf people think Auslan (Australian Sign Language) should be recognised as an official language.
Deaf Australia has for many years had an Auslan policy that calls for greater recognition of Deaf peoples right to use Auslan, and this policy has for years been on our website www.deafau.org.au/info/policy_auslan.php for anyone, including Deafness Forum, to refer to. The most recent version of this policy was adopted by our members at our Annual General Meeting on 3rd November 2006.
Deaf Australia Inc has been successful in obtaining funding to purchase a company car. Deaf Australia Inc is very grateful to the
Queensland State Governments Gambling Community Benefit Fund, who provided the funds.
The Staff of Deaf Australia will share the car for meetings, supplies, banking and other business
matters, travel to workshops and training etc.
The car, a white Toyota Yaris, complete with a Deaf Australia logo, has allowed us to improve
our work efficiency on behalf of the Australian Deaf Community, so you benefit from the car in a way too!
Posted on 23 March 2010
"I need a next generation NRS" Video Relay Service campaign online!
David Parker is the contact person for this campaign.
e: david.parker@deafau.org.au
Posted on 22 March 2010
"I need a next generation NRS" Video Relay Service campaign underway!
Deaf Australia is running a new campaign called "I need a next generation NRS" campaign. For the last few years, Deaf Australia has collected information from the Deaf community about Telecommunications for Deaf people. Deaf people are worried that they are being disadvantaged in using out of date telecommunications.
The National Relay Service (NRS) is a text based service where deaf people have to type in their messages to the relay operator. It is slow! The proposed Video Relay Service that will become part of the existing NRS will allow deaf people to use their natural language, Auslan. The communication will be faster.
David Parker is the contact person for this campaign and the information kit is going out to key stakeholders very soon.
e: david.parker@deafau.org.au
Posted on 11 March 2010
Deaf Australia's Survey about Advocacy Services
Deaf Australia wants to find out what you know about advocacy services, what advocacy services you have used, and what you would use if it is available and you know about it.
Deaf Australian Youth of the Year – Katrina Lancaster, NSW
Fair Go Award - Michael R Jones on behalf of Westpac (Concord West, NSW)
Posted on 17 November 2009
What is Auslan?
Auslan IS the language used by the Deaf community of Australia.
Auslan is abbreviated as Australian Sign Language. It is the uniquely visual language widely used in the Australian Deaf community.
Auslan conveys meaning through the use of handshapes, movement and location in space in conjunction with facial expressions and the use of fingerspelling.
It has its own vocabulary and grammar and does not correspond to English - spoken or signed. [ More information about Auslan ]
Auslan Endorsement System
Many materials are being published that claim to use and/or teach Auslan, many by people who are not native users of the language, and some of these materials use Auslan incorrectly.
This is cause for concern to Deaf Australia. Deaf Australia has now developed the Auslan Endorsement System, which tests materials and if they meet the criteria, they will be endorsed by Deaf Australia.
The Auslan Shop sells materials in Auslan and about Auslan, Deaf culture, Deaf history, interpreting, education, etc.
All Auslan materials for sale are approved first by Deaf Australia's Auslan Endorsement System. If you buy it in Auslan from The Auslan Shop you can be sure it is Auslan!
World Federation of the Deaf
WFD was established in 1951 in Rome, Italy.
WFD is an international, non-governmental central organisation of national associations of Deaf people, with a current membership of associations in 127 countries worldwide.
Associate members, international members and individual members also make up WFD’s membership base.
Deaf Australia is the Australian member of the WFD.
Deaf Australia Inc has been successful in obtaining funding to purchase a company car. Deaf Australia Inc is very grateful to the
Queensland State Governments Gambling Community Benefit Fund, who provided the funds.
The car, a white Toyota Yaris, complete with a Deaf Australia logo, has allowed us to improve
our work efficiency on behalf of the Australian Deaf Community, so you benefit from the car in a way too!
