One in three adults over 50 keep their hearing loss a secret. 60% of people living with hearing difficulties report being laughed or joked about. These figures, published in the International Journal of Audiology, are shocking but real, and demonstrate the unheard impacts those who are hard of hearing live with. 

This issue will just continue getting louder - with one billion young adults projected to suffer with permanent, avoidable disabling hearing problems as a result of unsafe usage of mobile hearing devices.

How can we “Advance Australia Fair”, and  sit back and watch the erosion of communal cohesion?

Learning Auslan should be a right every young Australia should have the option to choose. Young Australians agree with this statement, with 78% of a sample taken from our school concurring that Auslan is a beneficial language to teach.

Teaching Auslan in schools would remove significant accessibility barriers. Consider the changes made in Finland, where the inclusion of sign language in the curriculum saw increased societal integration and understanding, ultimately benefiting the community as a whole. Australia should follow this example and integrate Auslan into our education system nationwide.

Incorporating Auslan into the school curriculum would do more than just equip students with a useful communication skill. It would foster inclusivity and respect for diversity, encourage empathy, and build bridges across cultural divides. It would offer students a unique skill set that would enhance their personal and professional lives. Additionally, bilingual education involving Sign Language alters the brain’s architecture by recruiting both hemispheres for spatial and linguistic processing, which directly elevates a hearing student's 3D mathematical reasoning, visual memory, and reading comprehension.

More importantly, it raises awareness and reinforces the principle that everyone, regardless of their abilities, deserves to feel included and understood.

By introducing Auslan in schools, we pay respect to one of Australia’s official languages and acknowledge the richness that deaf culture brings to our national tapestry. It’s not just about communication; it’s about connection, community, and removing barriers to equality.

Join us in urging the Australian Government to make Auslan a part of the national mainstream school curriculum. By doing so, we can ensure that all future generations grow up in a society that values inclusion and accessibility. Sign this petition today to help make this vision a reality.

Help us Sign for Change.