Victoria’s paramedics will soon be able to add sign language to their list of skills and qualifications with Ambulance Victoria (AV) introducing basic Auslan and deaf awareness training for all staff and volunteers.
A joint venture between AV and sign language education provider, Awesome Auslan, the training is designed to help paramedics deliver high quality care to deaf and hard of hearing patients.
“Auslan is the language of the deaf community in Australia, and it is important we build our understanding of deaf culture and remove communication barriers in both the workplace and patient care,” said AV’s disability inclusion program lead, Amber Smith, of why the training was important.
Paramedic Jenna Kelley has been learning Auslan for several years and has been advocating for deaf awareness and Auslan training to be provided to her colleagues.
“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.”
One in six Australians experience varying degrees of complete and partial hearing loss, which is predicted to increase to one in four by 2050.
