AUSLAN
At Sunshine Harvester Primary School, all students learn Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as part of our Languages program. Many of our students already speak a language other than English, and learning Auslan provides another valuable way to communicate while strengthening their understanding of languages.
We chose Auslan because it reflects our commitment to inclusion, accessibility, diversity and genuine and meaningful communication.
Learning Auslan benefits our students in many ways. It:
- promotes respect for linguistic and cultural diversity.
- recognises and values Deaf and Hard of Hearing people within our community
- supports communication with Deaf or non-verbal peers
- complements English learning through a visual and hands-on approach
- develops hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
- engages different areas of the brain, supporting cognitive development
- creates greater opportunities for Deaf students to build friendships, feel included and expand their social networks.
At Sunshine Harvester Primary School, Auslan is taught from Foundation to Year 6 through our partnership with Auslan Education Services. Students participate in engaging, age-appropriate online lessons one hour a week that are differentiated for each year level and aligned with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0 with explicit teaching practices. Lessons are presented by Deaf and Hard of Hearing educators and include interactive activities that encourage students to actively use their new language. A comprehensive teacher planner supports classroom teachers to facilitate each lesson and reinforce learning throughout the week.
To get more information about AUSLAN please follow these links:
Check out some great Auslan videos filmed in Sunshine Harvester School:
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