- Cook Government marks National Week of Deaf People 2023, which runs from 18-24 September
- The week provides opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the Western Australian Deaf community
- This year's theme is "A world where Deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere"
This week marks National Week of Deaf People 2023, giving Western Australians the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the Deaf community.
Importantly, the week is also an opportunity for Deaf people to celebrate their communities, language, culture and history.
Coinciding with International Week of Deaf People and International Day of Sign Languages, the theme this year for the week is "A world where Deaf people everywhere can sign anywhere".
Today, Disability Services Minister Don Punch marked the week with members of the WA Deaf community at a morning tea event convened by Deaf Connect, which provides services to Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing Australians.
The event was attended by representatives from the WA Deaf Sports & Recreation Association, WA Association of the Deaf, WA Deaf Seniors, a Deaf student from Shenton College and the Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association (WA Branch).
Deaf Connect focuses on community empowerment and supporting Deaf Australians and their families to make choices and actions to thrive in life. It also strives to build capacity, influence social change and deliver a national agenda to improve equity for the Deaf community, and remove systemic cultural and language barriers.
The work of Deaf Connect is aligned to the Cook Government's vision for "A Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030" which sets the direction for a more inclusive State that acknowledges and responds to the value of diversity in our community.
As stated by Disability Services Minister Don Punch:
"The National Week of Deaf People is an important opportunity for us to celebrate and recognise the achievements of Deaf people and their contribution to our community.
"Today I was privileged to meet members of the WA Deaf community who are working to build capacity and influence social change to improve equity for their community.
"Western Australia is richer for the contributions and diversity that Deaf people bring to our community."
