What is it?
The National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) is a week-long national celebration of Deaf individuals and the Australian Deaf community. This includes celebrating the International Week of Deaf People (IWDP) and International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) which are initiatives of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
These two events are traditionally held during September and are based on the founding date of the WFD (23 September 1951). National Week of Deaf People is an opportunity for Deaf people to celebrate their communities, language, culture and history; make the public aware of their local, state and national Deaf communities; and to recognise their achievements.
This is your sign to learn Auslan
This National Week of Deaf People, we’re aiming to create a world where Deaf people can sign anywhere. The best way to achieve this is to increase access to Auslan in all aspects of life!
Deaf Connect offers eight week Introduction to Auslan courses aimed at introducing basic Auslan conversational skills to participants.
Sign up to the Introduction to Auslan 1 course, if you’re entirely new to the language, or if you’re wanting a refresher and to deepen your conversational skills join us for Introduction to Auslan 2.
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Daily Themes
National Week of Deaf People Theme for 2023: A world where Deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere
We adopt the World Federation of the Deaf’s daily themes for the International Week of Deaf People for use throughout NWDP.
This years daily themes are:
Mon 18 Sep | Declaration of the Rights of the Deaf Child
Tue 19 Sep | Building Capacity Across the Globe
Wed 20 Sep | Realising “Nothing Without Us”
Thurs 21 Sep | Putting Deaf People On The Agenda
Fri 22 Sep | Achieving Sign Language Rights for All
Sat 23 Sep | International Day of Sign Language: A World Where Deaf People Everywhere Can Sign Anywhere
Sun 24 Sep | Building Inclusive Deaf Communities
Parliamentary Breakfast
Parliament House, Canberra on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
We invited many Deaf leaders to attend to network with the ministers and policymakers.
Deaf Connect proudly sponsored 11 future Deaf leaders to attend from all over Australia, and they were able to ask Mr Shorten some very engaging questions about the NDIS. Keynote speakers included, Hon Libby Coker MP and Hon Bill Shorten MP, Brett Casey (CEO, Deaf Connect), and Catherine Miller (Deaf Australia).
Make sure you keep an eye out on our social media channels for more from this event.
Read the media release
Community Events
To celebrate National Week of Deaf People, Deaf Connect has supported the community to create the following events:
9 & 10 Sep | Brisbane | Deaf Festival Brisbane
16 & 17 Sep | Melbourne | Flow Festival Australia
19 Sep | Cairns | National Week of Deaf People Open Day
19 Sep | Townsville | National Week of Deaf People Open Day
23 Sep | Darwin | National Week of Deaf People Community Lunch
Deaf Connect is the leading sponsor of Deaf Festival Brisbane and Gold Sponsor of Flow Festival Australia.
Look out for lights and banners
Deaf Connect is excited to work with Brisbane City Council to promote this important week!
On Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 of September we will turn the Story Bridge, Wickham Terrace Car Park and Breakfast Creek Bridge blue as part of the ‘Shining a Blue Light on Sign Languages‘ initiative started by World Federation of the Deaf in 2022.
There are also banners and billboards promoting Auslan and National Week of Deaf People around Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
See locations
