Deaf education team leader Richard Gray with students, at front, Lawrence Villena, Hawwa Ahmed, Holly Taaffe-Boland, Brittany Toy and Shakisha Donaldson, and back row, Veronica George, Isaac Pampling, Ashley Worth and Hannah Diamond.
Camera IconDeaf education team leader Richard Gray with students, at front, Lawrence Villena, Hawwa Ahmed, Holly Taaffe-Boland, Brittany Toy and Shakisha Donaldson, and back row, Veronica George, Isaac Pampling, Ashley Worth and Hannah Diamond. Credit: Supplied/Matt Jelonek

Auslan classes set to unite students

Staff ReporterSouthern Gazette

Auslan, the sign language of the deaf community in Australia, is now offered as a Languages other than English (LOTE) option at BCC.

The school has 10 deaf students and Auslan will be offered to Year 8 students during the program’s first year.

BCC deaf education team leader Richard Gray said it was an important initiative for the school.

‘We have been developing the curriculum and we hope to expand it to other year groups next year,’ he said.

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‘It is very important because I think it can bring students together. As a second language, hearing students can learn the language of some of their fellow classmates.

‘The classes will be taught by a native Auslan teacher. It is great for the deaf students to see their language recognised and they will feel less social isolation.’