Petition Include Auslan in the primary school curriculum

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council our current education system in particular the focus of teaching foreign language in primary schools instead of teaching Auslan.

Although we are not against primary school children learning foreign languages, those of us who were taught a language have seen no positive impact on our life skills as an adult. This time could have been better spent learning to communicate with others within our own community who otherwise cannot verbally communicate. Many of us have been in situations where we have come into contact with someone non-verbal and struggled with the communication. Teaching Auslan would help our community grow to be more accepting of those who are non-verbal and also help to removing the communication barrier.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to include teaching Auslan in the primary school curriculum to help our community grow to be more accepting of those who are non-verbal and also help to remove the communication barrier.