From curiosity to career: Ying's Auslan career pathway

When Melbourne went into lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ying found herself in a situation she never expected. After years working in hotel events, where no two days were the same, her busy schedule suddenly came to a halt. 

What started as curiosity while watching daily news briefings grew into a future career goal.   

An unexpected beginning  

Growing up as a third culture kid, Ying attended international schools and moved between different cities and communities. Being surrounded by people from different cultural backgrounds was a normal part of her life and fueled her fascination for how people communicate across languages and cultures.  

Already fluent in three spoken languages, when Ying noticed the Auslan interpreters standing alongside government officials during COVID-19 news briefings, a lifetime of curiosity sparked a need to know more.  

"I remember trying to match the Auslan signs to the spoken English on the news," Ying says. "When I realised I couldn't, I started looking for information online." 

The more she searched, the more she realised that learning a language like Auslan needed to happen face to face, with real people and real community connections.  

Finding the right pathway  

When Ying began exploring study options, Melbourne Polytechnic stood out. At the time, she found it was one of the few providers offering an Auslan pathway from Certificate II in Auslan PSP20218 to the Diploma of Auslan PSP51018.  Just as important, the flexible study options meant she could continue working and study part time.  

Rather than committing to the entire qualification pathway from the beginning, Ying took her studies one step at a time. Over four years, she progressed through Certificate II, III and IV – finishing with the Diploma of Auslan PSP51018. 

"It took four years, but it felt like the right choice for me," she says. 

Studying part time was an intentional choice. It allowed her to balance work, study, and other commitments while steadily progressing through the pathway. Looking back, that consistency became one of her greatest achievements.  

Discovering purpose through community 

Learning Auslan is more than learning a language.  

One learning experience in particular helped shape Ying's future direction.  

While studying Melbourne Polytechnic, students are encouraged to seek industry connections and where they can, volunteer in spaces they may one day work. During her Certificate IV in Auslan PSP40818 Ying volunteered at a high school Deaf Sports Day through Deaf Sport Recreation Victoria.  

She gained valuable insight into advocacy work while building professional connections. When the opportunity came up to volunteer for a week at the Asia Pacific Deaf Basketball Championship, Ying was first to put her hand up.  

This volunteering experience challenged her in ways she hadn't expected. On any given day she found herself moving between Auslan, English, Mandarin, Cantonese and even conversational Japanese.  

What stayed with her most, however, were the conversations she had with Deaf people who shared a similar background.  

"When they discovered we shared a similar cultural background, they really lit up," Ying says. 

It was those interactions that helped Ying see the impact Auslan interpreters can have in creating connections across both language, culture and community. It was a moment that helped clarify her long-term career goals and gave her a glimpse of the future she hopes to build.   

Ying plans to become a qualified Auslan interpreter and, in time, work with Deaf people from Asian backgrounds who share similar cultural experiences to her own. Looking even further ahead though, she dreams of working internationally, bringing together her Auslan skills and knowledge of other spoken languages.  

Advice for future students 

When studying Auslan, Ying realised how fortunate she was to be learning from Deaf and Hard of Hearing people who have lived experience. She encourages anyone considering Auslan studies to keep an open mind and embrace this type of learning process.  

"Everything feels unfamiliar at the beginning when we're learning something new," she says. "But it gets easier if you keep going." 

Ying believes mistakes are an important part of learning and wants more students not to worry about having their entire future mapped out before they begin.  

"You don't have to commit to the full pathway straight away," she says. "Just give it a go and see how you feel." 

Most importantly, she recommends getting involved with the Deaf community as early as possible. She credits this as playing a big part in the enriching experience of studying Auslan at Melbourne Polytechnic.  

Ying's dedication to learning and community involvement was recognised when she was named Melbourne Polytechnic's Outstanding Vocational Education and Training Student of the Year.  

She hopes this recognition shines a light not only on her experience but on Auslan and the Deaf community - who have supported her throughout this learning pathway.