Following the 7 September Federal election, there have been some changes to government. Read here about which changes are relevant to Deaf Australians.

World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) President Colin Allen will be joining us in Brisbane for our Annual General Meeting on 16 November, 2013.

Colin will also present a workshop on “Equality for Deaf People”. How we can use the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities in our own lives to achieve equality for ourselves.
You are very welcome to join us and have an opportunity to talk with Colin.
Please download the flyer (see button below) for the full information.
Please note the workshop is limited to 25 people and you need to register by 14 November, 2013 by email to [mailto][email protected][/mailto]. The AGM is open to everyone and no need to RSVP.
[button url=”https://deafaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Deaf-Australia-welcomes-Colin-Allen.pdf” class=”button” size=”large” color=”green-2″ target=”_blank” lightbox_content=”” lightbox_description=””] Download the flyer (PDF 266KB) [/button]  

The Government has asked Deaf Australia to do a project, including community consultations, about Disability Employment Service (DES) providers.

Deaf Australia is gathering information about Deaf people’s experience with DES providers. We would like to meet Deaf people in your area and receive your feedback about your experience with Disability Employment Services.
This project started with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), but DES has now been moved to the Department of Human Services (DHS) under the new Abbott Government.
Deaf Australia will be going all over Australia (cities and some regions) to run consultations and find out more about the good and bad experiences Deaf people have had.
The Government needs to know this information so that they can use it to make improvements to the DES program.
Look out for the workshop dates on the Deaf Australia website/facebook in the coming few months. We will be running a workshop in Canberra on 14 November 2013 and one in Tasmania in December. This project will continue for 9 months till June 2014.
We look forward to see you at the workshops!
For more information email: [mailto][email protected][/mailto]

The current bushfire situation in NSW has brought the issue of public emergency communications into the spotlight over the last few days with Auslan interpreters only being brought in days after the fires started.

“Deaf people need effective, real-time, access to emergency information,” said Deaf Australia President Ann Darwin, “It is not good enough for services tasked with disseminating crucial warnings and information to simply provide captioning and hope this will cover everyone.”
“English is a second language for most Deaf people and in a stressful emergency situation the likelihood of miscommunication is compounded,” she said.
Dr Breda Carty, a Deaf Springwood local, explains about the particularly frightening experience of not having access to the same information as hearing people in her community, who are relying heavily on radio, phone and spoken communication with neighbors and emergency personnel.
“It was a great relief when Rural Fire Service (RFS) press conferences finally provided Auslan interpreters yesterday (four days after the fires started),” said Dr Carty, “and I feel much safer knowing I will be able to access these regular media updates.”
The NSW RFS has acknowledged this vital communication need by including Auslan interpreters in their regular televised media briefings about the bushfires in NSW.
“This is a major emergency and it’s important that communities stay up to date with the fire situation any way they can,” said Anthony Clark, NSW RFS Group Manager Corporate Communications, “We are using an Auslan interpreter to assist with the delivery of urgent information, to ensure as many people as possible can get access to timely information.”
With the bushfire season starting earlier and lasting longer each year, Deaf Australia is calling on all relevant government services to make sure interpreters are included for all televised emergency information and Auslan information is provided in online resources.
“We need both captioning and Auslan interpreting,” said Ms Darwin, “All state governments need to get ready now and make sure that lives are not lost as a result of poor communication.”
“If emergency services are telling you to evacuate from your home, you need to know when to leave, where the safe passages are and where to go,” she said, “When lives are at stake, the Government has a responsibility to make sure everyone is able to access emergency warnings and information in a format that is effective and easy to understand.”
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• During emergencies, Deaf people often miss out on information because there is no interpreter on TV or the TV station crops the interpreter out.
• Deaf Australia wants all emergency announcements to include an Auslan interpreter.
• TV stations need to be more aware of the interpreter so Deaf people don’t miss out on important information.
• The NSW Rural Fire Service is using interpreters for all of their regular television briefings during the current bushfires.
• If you or your friends or family are in a bushfire area and don’t know what to do, contact the Rural Fire Service immediately: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

4Senses is back again in 2013, with another awesome live gig specifically aimed at Deaf and hard of hearing people.

The event will be at a new venue as part of a partnership with the State Library of Queensland. Libraries are not usually known for their live music events, but this year’s event will feature more great local bands, and will have Auslan interpreters, art and sensory experiences to make the music accessible for everyone. Get your tickets early, so you don’t miss out on your chance to rock your senses in the State Library of Queensland!

Click the image to download the PDF flyer

Media Access Australia (MAA) has released a report, Captioning on Video on Demand: It’s Time for Australia to Catch Up, which shows that most video on demand and catch up TV providers are failing to make their content accessible for Deaf and hearing impaired viewers.

Deaf WA woman, Drisana Levitzke-Gray, has been announced as a finalist in the National Disability Awards, held at Parliament House each year on 3 December.

Former president of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), Dr Markku Jokinen received an honorary doctorate degree from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Jyväskylä of Finland on 24 August 2013.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network has called for new legislation that would mandate minimum standards around accessibility for content and communications services, which is necessary to ensure no Australians are excluded from the digital age.

At the M-Enabling Australasia 2013 conference in Sydney in August, ACCAN CEO Teresa Corbin said too many consumers were missing out due to inaccessible technology. She said that the USA 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act is a model that Australia should follow.

Last week, Deaf Australia sent out a media release regarding the Abbott Government’s decision to cut the Disability Ministry. We wanted the government to reinstate the Disability Ministry and also confirm their commitment to the Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) because we had heard concerns from our members about a rumour that the EAF may be reduced.

Deaf Australia is pleased to say that the Government, through DEEWR, have confirmed that the Coalition currently do not have plans to change the funding of the EAF program, particularly the Auslan component.
The Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield, said that the Coalition does not propose any cuts to the Employee Assistance Fund.
“Social and economic participation by people with disability is integral to the inclusion of people with disability in society, a central tenet of the NDIS of which the Government has repeatedly stated its strong and unequivocal support,” said Senator Fifield.
Deaf Australia would like to thank DEEWR and Senator Fifield for promptly responding to the issues raised in our media release.
“In my discussions with the Department, I reinforced that the EAF program as a whole is important to Deaf people,” said Deaf Australia Acting President Mr Todd Wright, “Deaf people need access to Auslan interpreters as well as access to captioning and notetaking services, and workplace modifications including technology and equipment.”
The Department has also advised us that eventually the EAF will be moved under the Disability portfolio in the Department of Social Services, under the responsibility of Senator Mitch Fifield, Assistant Minister of Social Services.
However, we are still concerned about the Government’s decision to axe the Disability Ministry and are calling for this portfolio to be immediately reinstated.
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• Some Deaf Australia members were worried because they heard rumours that the EAF would change
• Deaf Australia wanted to find out what was going on, so we sent out a media release and have also been in contact with DEEWR
• DEEWR have told Deaf Australia that there are currently no changes planned for the EAF
• Deaf people can keep using the EAF as normal
• If Deaf people have any concerns about the EAF, please contact us