Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Families and Payments) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I just want to say congratulations to the member for Parramatta on behalf of everyone in the parliament for bringing Auslan to the parliament in this National Week of Deaf People. It really was terrific to see you signing, Julie, and I know that people who are deaf will be so pleased that people here in this parliament are coming to better understand the power of Auslan. People are celebrating the National Week of Deaf People here in the parliament today and right around Australia. This year's theme is 'strengthening human diversity', drawing on the principle of respecting the human rights of the deaf community and recognising differences as possibilities rather than disabilities.

In my electorate, I have two mainstream schools—Charles La Trobe College and Rosanna Golf Links Primary School—which have excellent Auslan programs. Charles La Trobe enables students to study Auslan as a VCE subject. Rosanna Golf Links Primary School works to increase acceptance and awareness of deaf students. All students from prep to grade 6 learn Auslan. Prep students use basic Auslan at playtime, not just in their lessons. The Auslan program is also delivering a special deaf studies program to their deaf students, giving them practical skills such as hearing aid maintenance and teaching them about deaf culture. This is giving them the chance to view and experience the world in a different and exciting way. Congratulations to everyone involved. (Time expired)