Legislative Assembly committee launches inquiry into accessibility of Auslan services

DeafACT last year called on the government for the inquiry in an e-Petition which reached over 536 and was referred to the standing committee on education and community inclusion.

The tripartisan committee will consider the disadvantage and discrimination faced by Deaf people due to lack of access to services and information in Auslan and consider options to strengthen laws and policy.

President of the representative group Jacob Clarke said the inquiry was "a very important step to let down the barriers that the deaf community face daily".

The inquiry will examine options to strengthen and enforce legislation and policy to increase Auslan services across aged care, education and training, emergency services, employment, health care, justice, media and social opportunities.

Speaking in September 2021, Mr Clarke said the lack of services was so dire that deaf people attending emergency departments were often unable to access interpreters.

The pandemic had also introduced new challenges, with the ACT's vaccination booking system devoid of an option to use Auslan interpreters, and ACT Health offering no way for people isolating to notify the government they were deaf.

"Attempted phone calls were ignored because they cannot answer, prompting ACT police to check," Mr Clarke said.

Accessing services has continued to present challenges in the period since, but the onus was not on the Deaf community to change that, he said.

"It is the opposite end of the audience that needs a lot of awareness, training and [to become] more accessible for the Deaf community."

Mr Clarke said the visibility of Auslan interpreters in daily COVID press conferences given by government had helped bring the issue of barriers to access to the fore.

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"This coronavirus pandemic with Auslan interpreters has been a great asset to the Deaf community because health is important to them as equal with everyone else concerned."

Submissions to the inquiry are currently open and will close on July 15.

Input can also be made in Auslan, which the committee will then arrange to transcribe.

"My message to the Deaf community is I encourage you all to submit your story where you experience the barriers with the government, emergency services, hospital, mental health and such - there is a long list," Mr Clarke said.

"Your story will be a huge help for the inquiry and make the change for the community and beyond."

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