News
Many Deaf Australians could soon lose access to the nation’s only news bulletin delivered in Auslan (Australian Sign Language), according to Deaf Connect, a national not-for-profit organisation for Deaf Australians and those who communicate in the Auslan Language.
The organisation currently delivers the country’s only Auslan focused news service. Called Auslan90, the daily news program provides access to news in Auslan Australian Sign Language to the Australian deaf community.
The organisation is calling upon the Federal Government to provide much-needed funding to continue the vital news service, which is scheduled conclude on the 30th of June.
Powerd Media spoke with Deaf Connect CEO, Brett Casey, who attended Parliament House this week to provide briefs on the program’s impact and the urgent need for continued funding to secure its long-term future.
It's regularly published at 1:00 PM every day as to ensure the deaf community can access daily news. A lot of news is provided in auditory methods, spoken languages, as well as captions, which isn't fantastic, and so this provides an Auslan equivalence to accessing daily news.
Brett Casey
The organisation has lodged its pre-budget submission with the Federal Government, in the hopes of saving 30,000 Deaf Australians from losing access to news in their first language.
Mr Casey, through his interpreter Duke Moolenaar, explains the service is currently funded through a Information, Linkages, and Capacity Building Grant via the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
“We've developed the proof of concept to ensure that we can sustain the program…If we aren't successful in our budget submission, it means 30,000 Aus users won't have access to current news,” he says. “In Auslan, we've had 300,000 views over the last 18 months. It's important for us to keep this daily news program going.”
According to the Deaf Connect CEO, the government currently funds news delivered in 60 different languages. Mr Casey argues that the service is a vital aspect of the lives of people within the Deaf community, and that their language is of equal importance.
If you think about it, Australians…go about their morning routine while listening to the news, or if you're public catching public transport, you can still access news and podcasts through auditory methods. For everyday deaf Australians, that doesn't happen. We don't have access to radio. We may see a snippet on tv. We're following the captions, but we miss a lot of that information.
Brett Casey
He went on to explain how the service provides an opportunity for Deaf individuals to receive daily news, and to ensure that they remain informed.
“We don't necessarily make that connection without accessing news in our language.”
“We have a responsibility to ensure that all Australians, all our constituents and citizens have access to news to be able to make informed decisions in their life.”
On his recent visit to Canberra to meet MPs at Parliament House, Mr Casey set about raising awareness for Auslan90 and the benefits of knowing basic sign language signals.
“We did have an opportunity to meet with members of the Labor caucus…We met with about 20 various MPs and their advisors that attended that session. We talked Auslan90. We also provided a little bit of Auslan education training providing some Auslan signs so MPS can meet with their constituent,” the Deaf Connect CEO says.
“We also met with various government departments and senior advisors to demonstrate to them the capacity and value of this news program as well as the viability and sustainability.”
Mr Casey made a point of quoting a slogan from Labor’s 1973 election campaign, which was called, ‘It Is Time.’
It is time. It's time for deaf Australians to have a voice and to be able to access news like any other Australian citizen. It's a no brainer to fund this, from my point of view.
Brett Casey
Auslan90 is delivered by Deaf Connect in partnership with SBS and is funded by the Federal Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Deaf Connect says it remains open to bipartisan support to ensure the program’s continuation into the future.
Funding for Auslan90 is scheduled to end on the 30th of June.