Australia's Only Daily Auslan News Service to Cease
Australia's only daily news program broadcast in Australian Sign Language (Auslan), Auslan90, will air its final episode on June 30 after its federal government grant expires.
Without the service, the Deaf community's access to news is very limited.
Produced by the non-profit organization Deaf Connect, the program features Deaf journalists presenting the top stories of the day in Auslan. Since its launch in 2024, the service has produced over 400 news bulletins and reached more than 300,000 Australians via social media.
The Impact of the Loss
Deaf Connect CEO Brett Casey emphasized the service's unique role. For many Deaf Australians, Auslan is their first language, with English being a second language. This makes the program a critical, accessible source of information.
"We provide news in the first language of many Deaf Australians," Casey said. The organization requested ongoing funding in its submission ahead of the May 12 federal budget. Casey questioned the discrepancy in government support, asking why the government funds news in other languages but not in Auslan.
For viewers like 82-year-old Marcia Girke-Boylen, the loss is deeply personal. She said she understands news clearly with Auslan90 and would be "depressed" without it, as she faces significant barriers with English subtitles.
Funding and Future Outlook
The current funding was provided through an Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program grant, which is set to expire on June 30. A health department spokesperson stated that the ILC program is being replaced with a new disability peer support and connections program.
Applications for the new scheme close in July, with activities not set to begin until July 2027. This leaves a significant gap in accessible news services. Currently, the ABC News' 5 pm Sunday national bulletin offers Auslan interpretation and closed captioning, but no daily equivalent exists.
The final episode of Auslan90 will be filmed on June 30.