History and Achievements

Kyle Miers resigns as Chief Executive of Deaf Australia. Jen Blyth becomes the new Chief Executive.

Deaf Australia hosts the Deaf History International Conference in Sydney in July.

Past president Ann Darwin dies on 22 January.

Karen Lloyd, Executive Officer, retires on 1st March. Kyle Miers becomes CEO on 13 May.

After eight years of advocacy, in February government announces that SMS relay will be included in a ‘new look’ National Relay Service from 1st July

Emeritus Professor Des Power AM dies on 3rd April. Professor Power was a renowned educator and academic in the field of deaf education, and a long-time supporter of deaf people and Deaf Australia.

After six years of collaborative work by Deaf Australia, Deaf Aotearoa – New Zealand and Fiji Association of the Deaf, the WFD Oceania Regional Secretariat is formed on 1st January 2013 , comprising Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

WFD Conference is held in Sydney in October. Deaf Australia hosts a workshop for representatives of WFD Ordinary Members.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) begins rolling out in Australia on 1st July.

After many years of advocacy, changes to the Broadcasting Services Act on 25th June require reasonable quality captioning on all free to air TV programs between 6am and midnight by 2014.

Deaf Australia holds a National Summit on Early Intervention and Education for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Canberra, 29th – 30th November.  A report from the Summit was released on 31st May.

Deaf Australia holds a National Deaf Conference and 25th anniversary celebration in Hobart, 13th – 15th May.

The SignPost team makes its 10th and last program.

The Australian Government holds an Inquiry on Migration and Disability. Deaf Australia participates by formally submitting their position and input at a public hearing.

Deaf Australia hosts a forum in Adelaide on issues of interpreting provision in South Australia, at the request of Deaf Australia (SA) in August.

Deaf Australia establishes a Video Relay Service working group to advocate for a Video Relay Service. The working group includes representatives from four organisations as well as Deaf Australia.

Australia ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 17th July 2008. Deaf Australia begins to reference the CRPD in its advocacy activities.

Deaf Australia establishes The Auslan Shop.

SignPost wins the Diversity award at the Antenna Awards for community TV.

Deaf Australia hosts a national forum on access to emergency services.

AAD changes its name from Australian Association of the Deaf Inc. to Deaf Australia Inc. in November. The aim is to strengthen the profile of the organisation and the deaf community.

SignPost wins Program of the Year at the Antenna Awards for Community TV in Melbourne in June.

AAD’s Executive Officer, Karen Lloyd, is awarded membership of the Order of Australia (AM).

AAD hosts a National Junior Deaf Youth Camp at the Gold Coast, 24th – 27th September for youths aged 12-17.

AAD holds a National Conference in Adelaide, 3rd – 5th November. It is the first ‘truly Deaf’ national event in Australia with almost all presenters, including hearing presenters, making their presentations in Auslan.

AAD celebrates its 20th anniversary with a national picnic day on 2nd April, where state branches hold a picnic in a park in each capital city; and a gala dinner in Sydney on 2nd June.

First episode of SignPost Deaf TV program, produced by AAD National Deaf TV Sub-Committee members, is broadcast on community TV in Sydney in May.

AAD launches a new website on 11th July.

AAD hosts an International Deaf Film and TV festival as part of 2005 Deaflympics cultural festival in Melbourne.

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) is established. AAD is a founding member.

The AAD head office moves to Brisbane, with a small office at North Rocks in Sydney.

Free-to-air TV stations agree to increase captioning to 70% of programs between 6am and 12 midnight by 2007.

The AAD Deaf Achiever Award becomes the Deaf Australian of the Year Award.

AAD President visits all state capital cities during National Week of Deaf People and, along with state representatives, meets with government Ministers responsible for disability issues.

AAD begins advocating for bilingual education programs for deaf children.

Three month trial of open captioned movies in cinemas in Sydney and Melbourne.

A youth category is added to the AAD Deaf Achiever Award.

In July AAD hosts:

• • XIII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in Brisbane in July. Over 2,000 people from 80 countries attend.
  • 2nd International Deaf Theatre Conference.
  • 2nd International Deaf Youth Camp.
  • XI WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia and the Pacific representatives meeting.

Visit to Australia by the World Federation of the Deaf President, Liisa Kauppinen and World Federation of the Deaf General Secretary, Carol-lee Aquiline.

Deaf Australia establishes the first national Legal Defence Fund for Deaf People, and the AAD/WFD Cochlear Implant Fund.

Successful lobbying results in live captioning of national news services (evening news on television).

The first National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) is held.

The National Relay Service is established, funded by the Federal Government – a direct result of consistent and continued lobbying by AAD since 1986.

AAD wins the bid to host the XIII World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, to be held in Brisbane in July 1999.

$26.1 million dollars is allocated by the Federal Government to establish a National Relay Service - a direct result of consistent and continued lobbying since 1986 by AAD.

National Deaf Youth Camp is organised in Sydney.

TTY research project conducted by Phil Harper for AAD.

AAD receives government funding for the first time, from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services, and launches its National Advocacy Service for deaf people who use Auslan.

AAD organises a National ‘TTY-In’: members of the deaf community ring and fax Federal Parliamentary Ministers and Senators to raise awareness of the need for telecommunications access. This leads to a government-funded ‘Pilot TTY Relay Feasibility Study’ and eventually to a fully funded National Relay Service.

The achiever award is changed to the Deaf Achiever Award in honour of Dorothy Shaw OAM. First winner is Nola Colefax OAM.

AAD establishes the Australian Sign Language Advisory Body.

AAD holds a national Deaf Youth Camp in Canberra

AAD introduces a Deaf Achiever award. Dorothy Shaw is the first winner.

Founding President Dorothy Shaw is awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

AAD hosts the WFD Regional Secretariat Asia Pacific Congress in Melbourne.

Australian Association of the Deaf (AAD) is incorporated in South Australia.

Australian Association of the Deaf (AAD) forms with its inaugural general meeting on 1st June with a Board of Directors elected from all over Australia.

Australian Association for the Advancement of the Deaf (AAAD) is established, with the motto ‘Of the Deaf, by the Deaf, for the Deaf.’

Australasian Deaf and Dumb Association (ADDA) is founded, with a publication called The Gesture.