Auslan Teachers Conference 2025

Professor Adam Schembri is a Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics and Communication at the University of Birmingham, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge in sociolinguistics, language and gesture, and linguistic diversity. Professor Schembri has undertaken years of research focusing on the linguistics of sign languages, especially Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and British Sign Language (BSL).

Doctor Breda Carty AO is an Adjunct Fellow at Macquarie University with many years' experience as a teacher of the deaf and in developing resource materials about the Deaf community, culture and history. She was one of the pioneers of the Deaf Studies field in Australia, and regularly delivers presentations and community workshops on these topics.

This workshop introduces the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) - an internationally recognised standard for describing language proficiency - and explores its relevance to Auslan teaching. 
Through real-world examples and discussion, we will explore how CEFR provides a shared language for assessing proficiency, tracking learner progress, and connecting Auslan education to a global framework. This knowledge will help Auslan teachers better interpret course outcomes, design appropriate learning activities, and set achievable goals for their students.

Presented by Stuart Anderson – Expression Australia

Explore the rich heritage of Victoria’s iconic Bluestone building, now home to Deaf Children Australia. For generations, the building was at the heart of Deaf education, shaping the lives of Deaf children and their families. Today, Deaf Children Australia’s passionate team continues to honour that history by offering visitors guided tours in Auslan, bringing its stories to life through language, lived experience, and community connection. As well as highlighting Expression Australia’s ongoing link to the Bluestone building, even after relocating to a modern facility, and how this legacy is preserved through dedicated Heritage Rooms named after influential figures in Deaf history.

Presented by Stuart Anderson - Expression Australia & Kayla Trinder-Scacco - Deaf Children Australia

This session explores selected key changes in the Standards for RTOs 2025 that are most relevant to Trainers/Assessors and others involved in the student journey. We’ll discuss cultural and operational shifts to enhance compliance, uphold high standards, and keep students at the centre of everything we do to deliver the best possible learning experience. 

Presented by Carley Logan - Deaf Connect

Key insights into delivering PSPLAN010 - exploring the effectiveness of teaching strategies, featuring collaboration with Deafblind advocate Heather Lawson, who will share her experiences with student learning and mentoring. Visuals, testimonials, and outcome data will illustrate how immersive, community-connected training empowers students and opens pathways in the Deafblind sector.

Presented by Fiona Marke - Melbourne Polytechnic

Through years of working in the education department, I've had the opportunity to observe, learn, and reflect on different teaching methods - both as a team colleague and as a teacher. These experiences have influenced how I approach my own teaching today. 
In this presentation, I will share examples and strategies I've observed, and how they can be adapted for learning environments. My goal is to open up conversations about teaching approaches, share ideas, and contribute to a stronger, more connected community of Auslan educators. 

Presented by Justin May - Melbourne Polytechnic

This workshop explores the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ students face in language learning. Participants will engage in a discussion on evolving LGBTQIA+ terminology in Auslan across Australia and apply a four-pillar model of inclusive practice, fostering more supportive and responsive learning environments. 

Presented by Jack Meakins - North Metropolitan TAFE

In relation to PSPLAN005 new signs - unpack how teachers decide a sign becomes a sign acceptable - what are the protocols, and how does a new sign make its way into our lexicon.

Presented by Rachel Miers - Melbourne Polytechnic

This presentation reflects on Jen Moloney-Hyde’s 25 years of teaching Auslan, from the early curriculum days to the shift to training packages. She will share lessons learned, highlight the importance of developing training packages by Deaf professionals, and explore ways to strengthen collaboration across Australia’s Auslan teaching community. 

Presented by Jen Moloney-Hyde - North Metropolitan TAFE

In South Australia, many early Deaf teachers were themselves former pupils of Deaf schools. After completing their education, they remained within the school as support teachers or took on unofficial teaching roles. These pioneering Deaf educators passed on their knowledge by teaching general subjects as well as manual trades such as carpentry and bootmaking to younger Deaf pupils. They were also key figures in establishing and supporting community groups such as the Deaf Women’s Group and the Young Men’s Improvement Society. 

Beyond the classroom, these teachers played a vital role in shaping the wider Deaf community, most notably through their involvement in the Deaf and Dumb Mission, founded in 1890. 

Presented by Katrina Parker – TAFESA

Since 1997, over 200 Deaf people in New Zealand have completed the NZSL teacher training certificate programme at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. This national programme gives NZSL teachers a shared foundation of knowledge and a common approach to sign language teaching, supporting the professionalisation of the field. Learn why it’s been successful, what’s involved, and how it could inspire Auslan teacher training.

Presented by Sara Pivac Alexander - Victoria University of Wellington

Explore how trauma-informed access planning can support both Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and hearing students with disabilities to thrive in TAFE settings. We will examine students with disability, reflect on how access barriers can be compounded by trauma, and explore how inclusive classroom practices can reduce distress and disengagement. Touching on and clarifying SEAS’s role, demystify common misunderstandings around reasonable adjustments, and outline how Individual Equity and Access Plans (IEAPs) must align with training package outcomes. We will also explore how we work collaboratively with teaching teams, including the Auslan department, to maintain both educational integrity and student wellbeing.

Presented by Helen Naughton & Nardia David - Melbourne Polytechnic

This workshop invites Auslan teachers to explore how we can strengthen our profession by working together — even with limited time, small numbers, and scattered locations. While Auslan teaching continues to grow across Australia, many teachers work in isolation, with little professional recognition or support. This session introduces the idea of forming a national, Deaf-led Auslan Teachers Collective — a lightweight, flexible group focused on sharing resources, offering peer support, and advocating for our role as signed language educators.

Presented by Darlene Thornton - Monash University

This presentation introduces teachers to key ideas from Auslan/ language teaching research and ways to incorporate these insights into their own classroom practice. A key aim is to give teachers skills to better identify and use resources in their teaching and to understand why students make the mistakes that they do.

Presented by Louisa Willoughby - Monash University

In this interactive workshop, you will walk through the features of the new Signbank website, including the 'detailed view' and 'advanced search' functions. We will also discuss ideas for using Signbank in class and guiding students to make best use of it as a learning resource.

Presented by Louisa Willoughby & Darlene Thornton - Monash University