In The Media
Like a lot of twins, Nikita and Eliya seem to have a language all of their own.
The six-year-olds are never far apart and break into shrieks of giggling at a moment’s notice.
It’s a frantic mix of Auslan, tactile signing and spoken English.
Their small community in northern New South Wales has become an unlikely leader in breaking down language barriers.
Ahead of Auslan officially joining the NSW syllabus in 2026, Uki Public School’s principal Rachel Watkins introduced classes for the twins’ kindergarten class last year.
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Like a lot of twins, Nikita and Eliya seem to have a language all of their own.
The six-year-olds are never far apart and break into shrieks of giggling at a moment’s notice.
It’s a frantic mix of Auslan, tactile signing and spoken English.
Their small community in northern New South Wales has become an unlikely leader in breaking down language barriers.
Ahead of Auslan officially joining the NSW syllabus in 2026, Uki Public School’s principal Rachel Watkins introduced classes for the twins’ kindergarten class last year.
Kirsty communicates through Australian sign language, while Jex uses a mix of sign and tactile sign communication.
Hand-over-hand or tactile sign interpreting is a modified version of Australian sign, or Auslan, for those who no longer have enough functional vision to take in information that way.
Jex uses an interpreter and places his hands on top of theirs in order to feel the signs and access the information that way.
Communicating through an Auslan interpreter, Kirsty says the twins’ use of spoken English can bring its own unique quirks.
“When the girls fight, I put them in separate rooms. They’re still chattering from room to room but I can’t hear them,” she says.
The twins, watching their mum’s hands closely, exchange a knowing glance and a giggle.
“I wonder sometimes what they’re talking about, but because I’m deaf I’ll never know,” Kirsty says.
For Jex, it’s a proud moment as a father to watch his daughters learn three languages so quickly.
“They’re being raised in quite a different way to other children. It’s probably a pretty heavy load on their little minds,” he says.
“But CODAs are very resilient.”
Inclusive education
The twins began kindergarten in 2024 at Uki Public School, nestled in the foothills of Wollumbin in the Tweed Shire.
At first, Jex and Kirsty were worried a language barrier could make it hard to connect with the school community.
But the school introduced Auslan to the twins’ kindergarten class last year and the lessons will run for all seven years of their primary school life.
For Kirsty, the value is in the little things.
“When I’m here watching the kids learning Auslan, I’m hoping when they ever want to communicate with me it’ll be easier,” she says.
“Imagine them coming over and wanting a drink or wanting to have something to eat, they’ll be able to ask me directly.”
Auslan will be an optional course and decisions about teaching the syllabus will be made by individual schools in consultation with the Deaf community.
Teachers will have a year of extra time to plan and prepare, before the syllabus is taught in classrooms from 2026, but Jex sees the introduction of Auslan as a foot in the door for more inclusivity.
“It would be really great if some tactile signage was included too. Most people who’ve learnt Auslan know nothing about tactile sign language,” he says.
“It’s definitely something the government should consider; I think it would be really worthwhile.”
As for his two cheeky daughters, Jex makes clear he is kept on his toes.
“They can be a bit cheeky at times because they know we can’t hear them talking, and every now and then we might catch them out.”
