Ambulance Victoria (AV) is providing basic training in Auslan and deaf awareness training to all of its staff and volunteers.
A partnership with organisation Awesome Auslan, the training aims to provide knowledge and skills to the workforce to help remove communication barriers experienced by the Deaf and hard of hearing community in a health emergency.
Sunbury mother Rosie Willaton has been advocating for emergency service workers to learn some basic sign language after her son, Blake, required emergency care from paramedics in 2020.
“It would have been great if the paramedics at that time were able to communicate with Blake on his level using some sign,” Ms Willaton said.
“It’s going to make a world of difference to people like Blake knowing that paramedics are going to be able to have some basic sign.”
AV disability inclusion program lead Amber Smith said the training will assist in promoting a “safe, fair and inclusive workplace.”
Paramedic Jenna Kelley has been learning Auslan for several years and has been advocating for the introduction of Deaf awareness and Auslan training through her understanding of how learning a few signs can assist in an emergency.
“Situations where you need help from a paramedic can be extremely stressful,” Ms Kelley said.
“Patients are central to every decision made about their care and to do that we need to remove as many communication barriers as possible,” she said.
One in six Australians experience varying degrees of complete and partial hearing loss, which is predicted to increase to one in four by 2050.
