There is no single pathway to learning Auslan. Deaf Education Network has two streams of Auslan courses. To learn more about the pathways to learning Auslan, click here.

Deaf Education Network's Sign Language 1 (Auslan) and Sign Language 2 (Auslan) courses are run in various locations throughout the Sydney metropolitan and in some regional NSW areas.

Sign Language 1 (Auslan)
Sign Language 1 offers students the unique and fun experience of communicating visually using Auslan, the native language of the Australian Deaf community.

Students will:

• Use basic communication skills in Auslan
• Use visual-gestural communication strategies
• Identify the Deaf Community
• Explain effective ways of communicating with Deaf people
• Be introduced to fingerspelling patterns

This course is taught by both Deaf and hearing teachers. There is no prerequisite.

To find out the dates and locations for the next Sign Language 1 courses, click here.

For more information, contact the Program Supervisor, Community Auslan Courses - click here.

If you have a group of 12 or more people who would like to set up a class in your area, please talk to the Manager, Education and Training to discuss what can be arranged.

Sign Language 2 (Auslan)
Sign Language 2 continues the unique and fun experience of communicating visually using Auslan, the native language used by the Australian Deaf Community. This course is taught entirely in Auslan.

Students will:

• Improve communication skills in Auslan
• Further develop visual-gestural communication strategies
• Extend their ability to adapt signs for use in different contexts, including signs for use in the home, at work, for leisure and sport
• Cover topics including occupations, suburbs, directions, families, time, appointments and countries

This course is taught by Deaf teachers. Prerequisite: Sign Language 1

To find out the dates and locations for the next Sign Language 2 courses, click here.

For more information, contact the Program Supervisor, Community Auslan Courses - click here.

If you have a group of 12 or more people who would like to set up a class in your area, please talk to the Manager, Education and Training to discuss what can be arranged.

Auslan Only BBQ (AOBBQ)
A four-hour, structured language workshop taught entirely in Auslan. Participants are supported and encouraged to learn throughout the day by members of the Deaf community. Participants will:

• Meet and learn from members of the Deaf community
• Experience activities and a BBQ within a Deaf cultural environment
• Use Auslan in a safe environment
• Make new friends and have fun
• Learn new Auslan vocabulary
• Experience total immersion in a Deaf social environment
• Increase their confidence in using Auslan

Prerequisite: Students need to have completed the Community Auslan course Sign Language 2 or equivalent before enrolling in AOBBQ.

For more information, contact the Program Supervisor, Community Auslan Courses - click here.

To find out the date and location for the next Auslan Only BBQ, click here.

Auslan Only Weekend (AOW)
A no-voice fully catered residential weekend. Available at 2 levels, this award-winning program will amaze, challenge and delight participants.

Students will:

• Experience living with native signers in an Auslan only environment
• Be challenged by group and individual tasks to achieve goals, using sign knowledge and visual expression
• Experience formal and informal settings in Auslan
• Maximise learning experience through total immersion in the language and the culture

AOW 1
Participants will:

• Extend their vocabulary and ability to communicate visually
• Focus on the importance of classifiers and how to use them
• Be exposed to a diversity of signing styles in a supportive voice-off environment

Prerequisite: Completion of Auslan Only BBQ.

AOW 2
Participants will:

• Focus on the skills needed to negotiate and explain
• Focus on the language components utilised in storytelling, including the use of space, non-manual features and Productive Signs
• Be challenged to think about the Deaf community and culture from many different perspectives

Prerequisite: Completion of Certificate II in Auslan or equivalent.

AOW 3
Participants will:

• Use a range of signing methods, including hand-over-hand and fingerspelling, to communicate
• Work in groups to achieve individual goals
• Be challenged to think about the Deaf community and culture from many different perspectives

Prerequisite: Currently undertaking Certificate IV in Auslan or higher.

To find out the dates and location for the next AOWs:

• for Auslan Only Weekend 1, click here.
• for Auslan Only Weekend 2, click here.
• for Auslan Only Weekend 3, click here.

For more information, contact the Program Supervisor, Community Auslan Courses - click here.

Auslan Heritage School
This sign language and Deafness awareness course runs over 4 consecutive Saturday mornings and is designed for families who have a family member who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Participants will:

• meet other parents of deaf children
• meet deaf people
• find out more about Auslan and improve Auslan skills
• learn about the Deaf community

NOTE: Parents, guardians and siblings (over 14 years 9 months of age) of deaf children get first preference. We MAY also be able to provide places to other family members.

To see information about the dates and location for the next Auslan Heritage School, click here.

For more information, contact the Program Supervisor, Deaf Friendly Families - click here.

How to Enrol
Students can enrol for Deaf Education Network courses online. If you want to enrol and pay by credit card now, click here.

If you do not want to pay by credit card, you can enrol in person or by phone, fax or post. To find out how, click here.