The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP
Minister for Social Services
Member for Kingston
The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Minister for Government Services
Member for Maribyrnong
The Albanese Labor Government is reinforcing its commitment to inclusion and accessibility with the launch of a new pilot, delivered in partnership with Deaf Connect and SBS.
Funded under the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Program, the Auslan90 pilot, will include daily 90-second news summaries in Auslan as well as weekly 'deep dive' videos on certain news-related topics.
Auslan90 will be released daily at 1:00pm and provides the day's top stories in a format designed specifically for Auslan users.
The Government has committed $3.91 million to develop the Auslan Information Resource Hub through to June 2025, which includes the Auslan90 pilot.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said that the pilot formed part of the National Information Program, which seeks to provide vital information to people with disability, their families and carers.
There are 5.5 million Australians with disability, many of whom are Deaf or hard of hearing.
"Today is International Day of Sign Languages, and this program will help ensure the Deaf community can receive and access news and current affairs programs in their first language," Minister Rishworth said.
"Our Government is committed to creating a more inclusive and accessible Australia, and this Auslan90 pilot will help to meet the live information needs of the Deaf community, supporting their full participation in the community."
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill Shorten, said: "I recognise that for many in the deaf community, Auslan is a central part of their identity and a critical information tool".
"There are about 27,600 participants on the Scheme who receive supports and services for a hearing impairment," Minister Shorten said.
"It's important to have innovative activities, such as the Auslan90 pilot, undertaken as part of the National Information Program, to ensure people with profound hearing loss and their families can build their confidence and connect with their communities."
Deaf Connect CEO Brett Casey says Auslan90 represents a significant step toward media inclusivity for Deaf Australians.
"We are incredibly proud to launch Auslan90 - Australia's first daily news service created specifically for the Deaf community. This is more than just delivering the news - it's about an Auslan-first approach in which accessibility for Deaf Australians is not an afterthought," Mr Casey said.
"This agreement with SBS enables us to provide the high-quality, accurate news that all Australians expect, in a format that truly works for Deaf audiences. SBS's dedication to accessibility, inclusion and multilingual content makes them the ideal partner for Auslan90."
