Auslan to be offered as an elective in NSW schools from 2026
 

‘His teacher wanted to medicate my son’

Students from Kindergarten to Year 10 across NSW will be able to learn Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as an elective from 2026.

On Tuesday, the NSW Education and Early Learning Minister Prue Car launched the syllabus, which has been developed in consultation with the Deaf community.

Teachers will now be able to familiarise themselves with the course before the subject is taught in classrooms.

While schools will choose whether the subject will be offered to students, Ms Car said the government will work with schools on an individual basis to ensure they can teach the subject.

Where possible, they will find teachers who are already trained in Auslan to administer the subject.

“There might be a school that has wanted to do this for some time. Now they have the opportunity to do it now that it will be an elective part of the syllabus,” she said.

Ms Car also hoped allowing children to learn Auslan would help alleviate the shortage of Auslan interpreters.

According to Deaf Australia, while there are more than 16,000 Deaf people across the country, there are only 300 qualified and accredited Auslan interpreters.

“Part of the reason why we’re rolling out this syllabus is so we can make sure we train more kids in Auslan, so we can actually break the back of some of the shortages of Auslan interpreters out there in society,” she said.

Source: https://www.news.com.au/

Comprehension

.When will students be able to learn Auslan as an elective?
Who developed the Auslan syllabus?
What will teachers do before the subject is taught in classrooms?
Will all schools offer the subject to students?
How will the government help schools teach the subject?
Why is it important for children to learn Auslan?
How many qualified and accredited Auslan interpreters are there in Australia?

Discussion

What do you think about the introduction of Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as an elective in NSW schools?
Do you think it is important for students to learn sign language? Why or why not?
How do you think learning Auslan can help alleviate the shortage of Auslan interpreters?
What other languages do you think should be taught in schools?
How can schools ensure that teachers are properly trained to teach Auslan?
Do you think learning Auslan can help promote inclusivity and diversity in schools? Why or why not?
How can schools encourage more students to take Auslan as an elective?
What challenges do you think schools might face in implementing the Auslan syllabus?

Vocabulary

Syllabus - a document that outlines the content of a course or program of study.
Elective - an optional course or subject in a school or college curriculum.
Consultation - the act of discussing something with someone in order to get their advice or opinion.
Familiarise - to make someone familiar with something.
Administer - to manage or direct the affairs of a business, organization, or institution.
Accredited - officially recognized or authorized.
Alleviate - to make something less severe or intense.
Inclusivity - the practice or policy of including people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized.