DEN's Logo
Deaf Education Network’s history has played an important role in the history of Deaf education in Australia.

For decades, Governments and education agencies did not accommodate the needs of Deaf adults in education. The Adult Education Centre for Deaf and Hearing Impaired Persons, (AEC) later renamed Deaf Education Network (DEN) strove to educate these organisations and develop more appropriate methods.

Deaf Education Network's logo was created at the time when AEC was pioneering advocacy to change government thinking.

While Deaf Education Network achieved many successes in these areas, they still remain a challenge today. Curriculum development and improving program delivery methods continue as its on-going priorities.

The large amount of symbolism contained within the logo tells the story of this challenge.

Logo Symbols
A fingerprint was chosen as the central theme of the logo because each fingerprint is unique.

Deaf Education Network believes that the fingerprint on its logo stamps it as the most individual, unique, dynamic training organisation within the Vocational Education and Training sector. It also recognises the need to adopt appropriate curriculum delivery modes for the individual requirements of its varied students.

The square is a boundary, which represents methodologies, philosophies and guiding principals.  In its early days, government departments and authorities imposed many parameters upon the organisation, but Deaf Education Network pushed the boundaries to instigate numerous new educational approaches and methodologies which better suited the needs of Deaf people. Hence the fingerprint extends beyond the boundaries of the square. 

The square also represents a limitless canvas where students can create their individual learning pathway. 

Gold was chosen because it is the dynamic colour of the sun, which represents life and the ability to change with the seasons. Deaf Education Network prides itself on being flexible enough to be able to assess and address the individual needs of its students.

Purple is a regal colour, often used in religious settings to portray respect and dignity. It was selected for Deaf Education Network’s logo for the same purpose and to represent Deaf pride.

The series of squares across the top of the logo characterises a strip of film and symbolises the visual world of a Deaf person. It portrays the visual nature of Auslan. It also represents the visual nature of Deaf Education Network’s teaching methods, such as the combination of immersion and experienced-based learning utilised throughout the Auslan Only Weekend program.  

The filmstrip contains one yellow square. This portrays the Deaf community. Deaf Education Network does not view this group as being any more or less important than any of the other linguistic groups (therefore the yellow square is neither first nor last). It is just one of many which experience the same needs and challenges.

The logo remains a constant reminder of Deaf Education Network’s need to be creative in its role of developing clearly defined yet flexible methodologies and unique training opportunities to meet the specific needs of people learning through visual communication.