Australian Sign Language (Auslan) will be available to study as a first language or an additional language from 2023 as part of the NSW government’s curriculum reform.
Schools will have the option to roll out Auslan classes from Kindergarten to Year 10. It will not be mandatory for students.
Auslan joins the NSW curriculum alongside redesigned language syllabuses. (SMH)
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the introduction of Auslan into school learning will be an opportunity for inclusion.
“I am pleased to see Auslan included in the curriculum for the first time not only because it is a great step for inclusion and students with disability, but because it gives all students the opportunity to experience a unique part of Australia’s linguistic history,” she said.
Updated languages syllabuses for Kindergarten to Year 10 will also be introduced.
The Department of Education has worked on redesigning the current Classical and Modern languages syllabuses as part of the reform, now claiming to include a framework to cover all languages.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the introduction of Auslan in schools will be more inclusive. (Dominic Lorrimer)
The framework will help schools to teach any language without waiting for a specific language syllabus.
This change hopes to mean more languages will be taught in schools, in particular more local community languages.
“We know that there is a high demand for community languages and the new frameworks will create integrated school developed language courses with a high-quality framework, creating a shared understanding about what students are expected to learn,” Ms Mitchell said.
Strathfield High School students signing Auslan as it is introduced into NSW schools. (SMH)
NSW schools currently teach 34 modern and classical languages available from Kindergarten to Year 12.
Ms Mitchell has also encouraged teachers, parents and students to share their feedback on the syllabuses to ensure it suits communities.
“We want to ensure that NSW syllabuses have strong community ownership,” she said.