Hello, my name is Ashleigh and I work as an Auslan trainer for Deaf Connect. I love teaching students how to sign. It's great seeing them go out into the community and communicate with deaf people. They can use it in so many places and circumstances, such as the cafe, bank, a retail store, anywhere. It means deaf people get access to information.
I’m a deaf person, and I have grown up with that experience. I have been heavily involved in the Deaf community; I have been involved in Auslan Club, Deaf Club, and many sporting events, including spectating at the Deaf Games and the Deaflympics. I always encourage people outside of the community to come along to our events and get-togethers. The opportunity to practice your Auslan is simply invaluable.
Auslan allows me to understand more information and equips me with the tools needed to express myself clearly. Auslan gives me more depth in my communication and a better understanding of language itself. You see students get passionate about learning Auslan, progressing through the certificates and onto the Diplomas, and even becoming interpreters.
For anyone wanting to become an Auslan trainer, I suggest completing the Diploma of Auslan and the Certificate IV in Training & Assessment. It is essential to know the background of Auslan and how to teach the curriculum. If I could give any new or aspiring Auslan trainers some advice, it would be to be confident in your culture and language. Share your knowledge, give your students the gift of Auslan. You know how to do this because it is your language.
I would recommend teaching Auslan as a career, and I would love to see fellow deaf people become lawyers, doctors, and even Prime Minister in the future. I want to continue encouraging and supporting the community while progressing my career teaching Auslan. I want to always support deaf and hard of hearing professionals, and I want deaf people to be seen as equals. We are all the same.
