Whittington Primary School has adopted Auslan as our Language other than English within The Victorian Curriculum.

This is facilitated by a specialist Auslan teacher.

The study of Auslan contributes to the overall intellectual and social enrichment for all learners. It provides opportunities for students to develop their intercultural capabilities, understanding and respect for others, appreciation of diversity and openness to different perspectives and experiences.

Auslan aims to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills to enable students to:

• communicate in Auslan
• Understand language, culture and learning and their relationship, and thereby develop and intercultural capability in communication
• Understand themselves as communicators
• develop a knowledge and an understanding of the diversity of Deaf experience and the nature of identity.

Benefits of learning Auslan include:

• capacity to communicate with peers, friends and family members who use Auslan.
• improved capacity for visual-gestural communication
• intellectual interest, engagement and personal challenge
• awareness of deafness as a difference rather than a disability
• increased understanding of inclusion and diversity
• increased understanding of language acquisition, language systems and learning processes
• enhanced development of overall literacy capabilities