Name-pink (1)_TW
About-Michaela2_tw
  • 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

  • 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)

  • I am Deaf and have ties in the Deaf community

  • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40116)

Mission

  • To facilitate people in their journey to learn Auslan and respect and appreciate Deaf culture and their language

  • To spread Deaf awareness throughout the hearing community

  • To maintain and sustain the integrity of the Auslan language

  • Provide Deaf Awareness sessions and Auslan workshops in regional and remote areas of Queensland

What People Are Saying

So informative and well put together. I want to know more!

Awareness of how I communicate and points I need to be more aware of when communicating!

So much to learn! It’s absolutely fascinating and exciting! It made me feel good that I could retain some basic signs and that I was learning.

Great, great class. Informative, interesting and engaging.

Very well presented in an easy to understand format.

Michaela had such a good vibe and great energy!

There is so much more to sign language that I first thought.

Worthwhile for everyone. It was actually AWESOME.

Really fun, loved it and made me excited to learn more.

How important communication is in emergency situations and the importance of ensuring everyone can communicate effectively, even those that may not be able to hear. I hadn’t really considered that before.

I’m so pleased to learn you are creating another course that will follow the first one!
As a teacher, I really appreciate how well structured the lessons are, along with the slow, steady speed and repetition.
Thank you for the suggestions on how to keep working on my Auslan in the meantime, much appreciated.

Absolutely brilliant. Best PD (as a teacher) that I have been to in YEARS.

Better understanding of Auslan and communication with people in the deaf community.

It was a great introduction and I really enjoyed it. I’d love to learn more.

There are so many nuances that a hearing person takes for granted and knowing the best way to approach someone who is deaf, Deaf or hard of hearing can seriously help the interactions you have.

Awareness of how best to get people’s attention was super helpful to me.

It was a great night of information. Just the most fun way to learn Auslan.