Early Childhood Auslan Language Program update

Auslan is Australian sign language, the native language of the Australian Deaf community, and is a visual-spatial, natural language with its own grammar and vocabulary. In 2019, The Victorian Government launched the Early Childhood Language Program to encourage preschool children across Victoria to learn in a language other than English. The program consists of two program modes: the Learn Languages at Kindergarten Program and Bilingual Kindergartens. Both modes encourage children to learn in a language other than English to help improve their overall literacy and understanding of how languages work.

Auslan is one of the languages Victorian kindergartens chose to deliver as part of the program. Incorporating Auslan into the kindergarten program has many benefits for both deaf and hearing children.

In this 60-minute presentation, learn about the implementation of the Victorian Department of Education Early Childhood Language Program, specific to Auslan in early years settings. The presentation is a recording of a VDEI live webinar presented by representatives of the Department’s Early Learning and Development Reform Branch in May 2021. 

The presentation will discuss the implementation and current status of the program, challenges and successes in delivering the program to date and outcomes for children and educators involved in the program. 

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Participants will:

• Learn about the aims of the Early Childhood Auslan Language Program
• Examine progress to date including key successes and challenges in delivering the program
• Discuss outcomes for children and educators partaking in the program. 

Christina Costa is the manager of the Early Years Projects team that is responsible for implementing the Early Childhood Language Program (ECLP). Prior to the ECLP, Christina ran the successful trial of the Greek Language Pilot Program which lead to the inception of the ECLP in 2018.

Michael Randall is a senior policy officer that joined the Early Years Projects team in early 2020. Together, Christina and Michael lead the day to day delivery of the ECLP, including its formal evaluation, professional learning and other supports that are offered to language teachers.