- Hearing
Seven talented students from our Sign Bilingual program—where they learn Auslan and English in its written form—entered this year’s competition. Past winner Keira won first place in the 9-12-year-old category and Henry and Leon were named runners up in their categories. The theme was ‘Auslan gain’, with entrants creating a short video showcasing the unique experience and benefits they have gained from using Auslan.
Each year the students are given criteria such as length or inclusion of a sign or a theme, and they then work hard to put together the content of their story and consider how best to sign it to make it visual, entertaining, and polished. As Auslan is a visual-only medium, they produce their final piece from memory and film it in one take.
NextSense School teacher Kellie says it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the students in coming up with concepts for their entries and then working together to draft storyboards and produce them.
— Kellie, Teacher, NextSense SchoolThe students loved exploring ways they enrich society through Deaf culture and the richness of Auslan, as well as showcase the unique problem-solving skills we have as Deaf people navigating a hearing world.
Keira's story 'Trouble with Police,’ was a comedy about a man and his wife, who were deaf. They were speeding but were able to get out of paying for a speeding ticket by scheming in Auslan in front of the unknowing police officer.
Henry, who was named runner up in the same category, told a story about a soccer team that had players who were deaf and hearing, and were able to communicate in sign across the pitch so the other team wouldn’t know.
Leon’s entry, ‘Train trip to Western Australia’, was a runner up in the Young Children category for five- to eight-year-olds. His entry was a story about travelling on a train to Western Australia when the train stopped at a platform and the doors wouldn't open. Leon had no idea what was happening or why. He saw an Auslan signer through the windows and waved to get their attention to ask what was happening. The person could hear and listened to an announcement outside on the platform and used Auslan to communicate with Leon and people inside the train.
— KellieThe concept of Deaf Gain changes deafness from a loss to a gain and it highlights the unique contributions and perspectives that Deaf individuals bring to the world.
‘[My student Leon's entry] was a perfect example of Auslan Gain because Auslan can be used anywhere to communicate,’ she says.
Auslan Day is held each year on 13 April, the anniversary of the publication of the Auslan dictionary in 1989. It is the fourth year that the video competition—run by advocacy organisation Deaf Australia—has been held.
Check out the images below of the students as they prepared the entries.