Deaf Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Kyle Miers to the role of Deaf Australia Chief Executive Officer. Mr Miers takes on this position after the incumbent Executive Officer, Ms Karen Lloyd AM, retired in February.
“I’m honoured to accept this position,” said Mr Miers, “and I will be proud to build on past Deaf Australia successes to keep the deaf community a strong one and advance the rights of deaf people Australia-wide.”

Read outgoing Executive Officer, Karen Lloyd’s final activity report for the months of January and February 2014.

We wish Karen all the best as she enters retirement.

Deaf Australia is setting up a new Early Intervention and Education Working Group.
The Working Group will include representatives of organisations in the early intervention and education fields, and two individual independent community representatives – one deaf person and one parent of a deaf child. Read more about the working group, who should consider registering and how to register …

Further to our last post about workshops in our capital cities to discuss the National Disability Strategy and how it is (or isn’t) working for Deaf people, find out how you can have your say even if you can’t make it to one of the workshops. The survey closes on Monday, 24 February 2014

Is the National Disability Strategy doing what you want for Deaf People?
Come and have your say at one of the workshops happening in your capital city. Find out where and when here.

A Deaf woman from Perth has been the first Deaf person in Australia to take part in a jury selection process.

Drisana Levitzke-Gray was summoned for jury service in Western Australia in late 2013 and is the first Auslan user in Australia to be allowed to continue with this process and to have an Auslan interpreter during the proceedings, held on 14 January 2014.

At our AGM last year, Karen Lloyd announced her retirement from her current position as Executive Officer of Deaf Australia.

The Board of Deaf Australia now needs a leader from the Deaf community to continue the strong legacy that Karen has built over the last 13 years, and to take the organisation forward into the exciting future – which will include a lot of opportunities for change under the National Disability Strategy and NDIS from the Federal government, and under the framework of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Deaf Australia held their 27th Annual General Meeting on 16 November 2013 at the Deaf Community Centre, Moorooka Queensland.
Read a summary of the meetings highlights.