- Became deaf during the birth process
- Diagnosed at 3½ years old with "moderate to severe hearing impairment" (medical term)
- Commenced extensive speech therapy after being fitted with two hearing aids
- Can speak relatively well (also known as oral deaf) due to support from speech therapy and family
- Involved in mainstream education with Advisory Visiting Teachers (AVTs)
- Attended 18 different schools (family moved a lot)
- Schooling in NZ, QLD and NSW
- Started learning Auslan through TAFE at 16 years old
- Involved in Deaf Community in Gold Coast at this age
- Moved to Toowoomba, became heavily involved in Deaf community here and was immersed in Auslan daily
- Went to Uni to study to become a Teacher of the Deaf
- Changed major to Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities in second year of studies after Lecturer feedback
- Worked as a teacher in special schools for 15+ years. (All ages – prep to 18 years old)
- Moved to Adelaide and became involved in Deaf community there
- Studied Auslan in Brisbane to achieve certification
- Was re-diagnosed as severe to profoundly deaf
- Began working for Deaf Services (now Deaf Connect) teaching Cert II and III, Community introduction classes, Auslan at Home and Deaf Awareness workshops
- Adult education/RTO teacher for 4+ years
- Studied Diploma of Auslan (Deaf Cohort) in 2018
- Certificate 4 in Training and Assessment (TAE40016) completed in 2019
- Worked at a high school with EQ as an Language/Auslan LOTE Teacher in 2021
- Began Awesome Auslan in 2021
- Released online beginners Auslan course (Level 1) in 2022
- Released continuation of online Auslan course (Level 2) in 2022
- Plans to release an online Auslan Linguistics course in 2024 (this will be beneficial to Auslan students, Auslan teachers and Deaf/Auslan users).
- Qualified and registered teacher with Queensland College of Teachers (QCT)
- Holds a Working with Children clearance (blue card - QLD) and Working With Children Check (WWCC - Victoria)
- Holds an NDIS Worker Screening clearance (yellow card - QLD)
Qualifications
I am a qualified teacher with 18+ years of experience
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In my teaching career, I have taught prep to Year 12 in Special Education settings, and adult education for 5 years:
- Auslan At Home to families
- Community introduction sessions
- Accredited education course - Certificate II & III
- Deaf Awareness Training
- High School Auslan Language Teacher -
I have a Diploma in Auslan (Deaf Cohort 2018)
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I am Deaf and have ties in the Deaf community
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Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116)
Mission
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To facilitate people in their journey to learn Auslan and respect and appreciate Deaf culture and their language
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To spread Deaf awareness throughout the hearing community
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To maintain and sustain the integrity of the Auslan language
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Provide Deaf Awareness sessions and Auslan workshops in regional and remote areas of Queensland