How to learn Auslan with ease

Key points:

• It is important to use your dominant hand when learning how to sign and DeafNav has some videos to show you how this may look different based on whether you are right- or left-handed

• Auslan is less structured than the English language, but certain conventions must be followed

• If you don’t know how a phrase is expressed in Auslan, you can learn the Auslan alphabet and spell out each letter

Approximately 3.6 million people in Australia have some form of hearing loss and this can present significant challenges for people trying to communicate, particularly over the phone or via email.

For people who identify as deaf or hard-of-hearing, Auslan (Australian sign language) is often the language they use to communicate without relying on spoken words.

Auslan is a visual language that relies on distinctive hand shapes, movements, facial expressions and even the use of space. It also has its own grammar and syntax, meaning it differs from spoken and written English.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme, commonly known as the NDIS, may be able to provide support if a person’s hearing loss constitutes a disability. These funds may be able to help purchase assistive technology and equipment or provide interpreter services.

For those over the age of 65 or 50, for First Nations people, who aren’t eligible for the NDIS, you may be able to receive support through the National Sign Language Program.

The NSLP is available through aged care providers, namely:

• care finders;
• Regional Assessment Services;
• Aged Care Assessment Teams/Services;
• the Commonwealth Home Support Programme;
• Home Care Package providers;
• residential aged care providers; and
• other aged care services subsidised by the Australian Government.

However, learning Auslan can be just as, if not more, important for the general public than learning another language. Although certain phrases have their own dedicated movements that experienced speakers will recognise and be able to use in conversation, learning the alphabet can allow beginners to spell out each letter or express a numerical value.

Deaf Connect has published an infographic that you can use to learn the Auslan alphabet at home.

It’s also well worth the effort to learn how numbers are expressed in sign language, whether you’re a shopkeeper trying to help a customer or you know someone with hearing difficulties who may struggle with banking or managing their finances.

Sentence structure

Unlike Australian English, Auslan is a visual language and the sentence structure is vision-first. 

As an example, if you were to tell someone that you saw a happy yellow dog last night, you would sign it in the following way:

“Yellow dog happy last night I saw.”

Learning some basic phrases

Unlike some languages, it’s hard to learn phrases in Auslan through text, but there are many deaf and hard-of-hearing community resources to help you learn.

YouTube videos can be a great tool for broadening your vocabulary and communicating more effectively. DeafNav has a couple of quick videos demonstrating some things you may say in your day-to-day life.

Think about the things you would need to know if you were in a foreign country, like asking where the bathroom is or requesting help in an emergency. If you can learn essential phrases in Auslan, you may be able to recognise and assist someone in crisis.

Deaf Connect’s Sign Online course offers you the flexibility of self-guided and self-paced online learning with over 14 hours of interactive quizzes and video content.

Becoming fluent in Auslan

Given that Auslan is a visual language, you may be able to improve your knowledge and proficiency in speaking it with an in-person class. Auslan courses are available through the National TAFE Network and you can become an accredited speaker through these programs.

For more information

Please refer to the following resources for more information about the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, advocacy and available support:

• Deaf Australia
• Deaf Connect
• DeafNAV
• The Department of Health and Aged Care
• The National Disability Insurance Scheme

Are you fluent in Auslan or do you know someone who is? What’s stopping you from learning today? Let the team at Disability Support Guide know your thoughts and subscribe to the newsletter for more information, news and industry updates.

Related content:

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?
What is the NDIS?

What is a hearing impairment and how can it be treated?