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Whilst the portmanteau “Auslan” was only coined in 1987, Australian Sign Language has existed in Australia and has evolved over more than 200 years, since the first ships from Britain arrived on our shores. Indigenous signed languages further pre-date Auslan, however, we do not know much about them. Deaf people arriving in Australia as convicts and as 'free settlers' brought their signed languages with them. From these various dialects of British Sign Language, Scottish Sign Language, and Irish Sign Language, Auslan began to emerge as a distinct language in its own right, as residential schools for the Deaf were established around Australia. These schools employed teachers and Deaf staff who shared their sign language, and generations of children added both variety and standardisation.
West coast variation in Auslan started to take place once the school for the Deaf was established in WA, and as WA Deaf families were able to share their generationally acquired Auslan with Deaf children from hearing families.
Deaf people continued to share their language with friends, teachers, and workmates, and many informal Auslan classes were established in churches, schools and workplaces. In the 1970s the WA Deaf Society began running 'communication classes', commencing the process of formalising the teaching of Auslan to the wider community. These early formal Auslan courses were coordinated and taught by Deaf people, ensuring authenticity in the sharing and teaching of the language.
Communication classes continued for the next 20 years, becoming increasingly more formal and evidence-based, as research about Auslan as a legitimate language was recognised and published. Eventually, the first proper training course in Australia for Auslan interpreters was established in WA in 1986, and a formal curriculum for teaching Auslan to adults was developed, and all Auslan-related teaching and training courses moved to Central Metropolitan College of TAFE (now known as North Metropolitan TAFE) in 1992. In 1996, Central TAFE launched a Centre of Excellence of Auslan and Deaf Studies, aimed at further improving the curriculum, teaching and resource development in Auslan, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for trained and skilled Deaf teachers to teach their language and culture.
Auslan classes can now be found in a variety of places in WA, both in person and online. Many more schools today teach Auslan, with the Australian Curriculum: Languages (Auslan) approved for national implementation in 2017. The curriculum writers included WA representation, with the involvement of Dr Karen Bontempo and local language consultant and stakeholder, Patricia Levitzke-Gray, having key roles in the creation of the national curriculum, and in developing the model program for deaf and hearing students from Years 7 to 12 at Shenton College and Shenton College Deaf Education Centre. Many students – both deaf and hearing - at Shenton can now graduate having studied Auslan as an ATAR subject, using their Auslan results to contribute to their university entrance examinations, as well as receiving a Certificate IV in Auslan through Recognised Prior Learning from North Metropolitan TAFE, from their studies at Shenton College. Some Auslan students have continued their Auslan journey since leaving school, by undertaking further training and becoming Auslan/English interpreters. Other graduates from Shenton are using their Auslan skills directly in their chosen careers, creating a bright future where Deaf people can directly communicate with their doctors, mechanics, and bank tellers, in their own language, creating a more Auslan-accessible society.
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