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Our Programs, Family & Community

Empowering Your School Community to Create a Deaf-Friendly School

Building Bridges is a new, FREE, self-paced online short course and set of downloadable resources to help school staff and the school community feel confident, informed, and supported.

The Challenge

Supporting Rural & Regional Schools

School staff and the wider school community, especially in rural and regional schools, often face unique challenges when supporting deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students. This program received funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and these resources and course are currently free.

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Included in Building Bridges
  • Online, self-paced short course developed for all school staff covering deaf awareness, communication tips and guidance
  • Access to a video library of 200+ school-friendly Auslan signs
  • Downloadable resources with practical information about inclusion, Auslan and activities
  • FREE Auslan Resource Pack with posters, activity sheets, plus two large format Platypus Playhouse storytime books (Auslan/English), 250 available
Course Outcomes
  • Understand more about inclusivity
  • Know more about types of deafness
  • Understand technology
  • Comprehend bimodal bilingual strategies
  • Recognise signs of deafness and listening fatigue
  • Develop a basic library of everyday Auslan signs
Free Resources

View & Download Building Bridges

You can view and download the resources that are part of Building Bridges below:
Auslan Library Downloadable Information Sheets Downloadable Activity Resources
Who Is It For?

Teachers, Communities & Families

School Communities

Teachers, school communities, school administration teams, and aides and supports.

Families

Parents and carers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Why Building Bridges?

A recent DCA survey (2024) of rural and regional school communities identified:

  • The need for skills, tactics, and strategies to effectively engage DHH children in the classroom
  • The appetite for tips to include a DHH child in everyday, mainstream activities
  • Useful, practical information for schools, an online short course for school staff and teachers about deaf awareness and communication tactics

Building Bridges resources and course are free and funded by DSS, ILC program.

If you would like to discuss the course and its fit for you or your school, please feel free to contact us.

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