Our first Year 7 Auslan students put their Term 1 learning into practice last week during an incursion focused on building their understanding of Deaf culture and communication.

We were privileged to welcome guest speaker Renee D’Offay, from First Hand Auslan, who shared her personal journey of becoming deaf later in life.

Renee spoke openly about the challenges she faced and her determination to become a member of the Australian Deaf Basketball Team and compete at the Deaf Olympics, an honour she achieved twice.

Her story provided students with a powerful insight into identity, inclusion, and the importance of communication beyond spoken language.

We were also fortunate to hear from our Deaf Education Assistant, Vanessa, who shared her own experiences. Vanessa is an incredible role model for both our students and staff, and we thank her for the positive impact she is making in our community.

Following the presentations, students took part in a game of Deaf basketball. They had to rely entirely on non-verbal communication, applying the skills they had been developing in class. Students demonstrated great teamwork and enthusiasm as they navigated the game without spoken instructions.