Shock at course axing

By Lilly O’Gorman
A PAKENHAM couple say the cancellation of Kangan’s Diploma of Auslan (Australian Sign Language) will have devastating flow-on affects for the deaf community.
Tracey Walters enrolled in the course at Kangan Institute of TAFE in February – in order to become an interpreter for school children.
She said that, like hundreds of others, her career plans would be derailed when the course was cancelled at the end of the year.
“I’m angry and disappointed,” Ms Walters said.
“There is such a need and there are people willing to provide for it, but we can’t get the necessary qualifications.
“I hope I haven’t wasted a whole six months (of study).”
Tracey’s partner, David Roberts, is the director of The Auslan Company, the only Auslan training organisation that is owned and run by deaf people in Australia which provides short courses in schools, community centres and workplaces throughout Cardinia Shire.
Mr Roberts said he was disappointed the only accredited Auslan course for Victoria, Tasmania, Queensland and New South Wales had been cancelled.
“As there is already a shortage of interpreters in education, in health and within the court system, this could mean that there will be little, if any, new interpreters being available for the deaf community,” Mr Roberts said.
“This in turn could take us back to the dark ages of the 1970s when deaf people had to rely on family members who could barely sign. It is a disgrace.”
A statement issued by Kangan Institute on Tuesday 22 May said State Government funding cuts had made the course “unviable”.
“Kangan Institute has for a number of years unsuccessfully argued for on-going recognition in the government funding schedule to account for high costs of provision and the extensive student support required to meet the needs of Auslan students,” the statement said.
“Although no new enrolments are being taken, existing students will be taught for the remainder of 2012 and our dedicated Auslan staff will be working through how continuing students who may not complete the full course this year can fast-track completion of the qualification.”
A spokesman for the Higher Education Minister Peter Hall said Kangan Institute had indicated to the department on two previous occasions that it was considering dropping the course, and the first occasion was before the last state election.
He said funding for the certificate III and IV courses has been increased, while there is a slight decrease in the hourly rate for the diploma course.
“The department has been involved in discussions with VicDeaf in relation to the possibility of establishing part-time Auslan provision. We also hope Kangan will change their mind and continue to offer the diploma course,” the spokesman said.
Mr Hall released a statement which said Kangan TAFE was being “deceptive and duplicitous” by blaming the course closure on the Victorian Government’s “funding changes”.
Graeme Kelly is the chief executive of VicDeaf, the largest employer of Auslan/English interpreters in Victoria.
Mr Kelly said it was clear there was a shortage of interpreters in Australia.
“Obviously, any reduction in full time training for interpreters is going to have significant impact,” Mr Kelly said.
“(VicDeaf) has increased the availability to about 17,000 hours of interpreting a year, which is a big increase from about five years ago, but it’s still not enough.
“I’m extremely concerned.”
In conjunction with advocacy group Deaf Victoria, VicDeaf has written to the minister seeking an urgent meeting and is awaiting a response.
“There has to be a solution sorted out. We can’t just drop a full time course without a solution.”
A protest regarding the decision to cut the Diploma of Auslan will take place at Federation Square in the city at noon today (Wednesday 30 May).