Assisting the Deaf Community with Clear Information When It’s Needed Most

One of the essential services made possible by supporters of the Deaf Lottery is Deaf Connect’s Community Access program. Community Access serves as an open door for answering questions and providing support and advocacy – delivered in person and online all over Australia.  

From translating legal or technical jargon in emails and letters to helping our community traverse government systems and technology – Deaf Connect unlocks access to crucial information on topics that many Aussies take for granted. It can be anything from banking, health, and insurance; to real estate, tax and Centrelink. 

Community Access is a longstanding staple of community support that remains funded entirely without government assistance, by Deaf Lottery supporters. 

Empowering Deaf Australians: Clear information when it's needed the most  

In the world we live in, our daily lives are constantly adjusting to the impacts of unpredictable circumstances, never more so than during Covid-19.  This was an incredibly hard time for all Australians, let alone for the Deaf community, where important updates were not always given in Auslan (Australian Sign Language), their first language. 

In 2022, when one Deaf Australian tried to travel from Victoria to Queensland, they were, like many Aussies, placed into quarantine upon arrival. However, due to an Interpreter not being provided, they had no understanding of why this was happening, how long they would be held for, and what fees they would have to pay. 

Community Access supported this client, and translated the Queensland government documents that indicated overdue quarantine payments. After receiving assistance from our team, this community member could finally access and understand all of the important information. 
They also felt empowered to advocate for their own rights and needs. Upon their request, Deaf Connect was able to connect them to a disability discrimination lawyer, so that the additional “late fee” for their quarantine stay could be waived, because an Interpreter was not provided to translate the first invoice. This stressful quarantine experience majorly impacted their mental health, but it also empowered them to advocate for their rights and share their story with the wider community.  

The continuation of Community Access is essential in providing a lifeline for Deaf Aussies, so that they can continue to decipher crucial information when it’s needed the most, just like the rest of us.