On Auslan Day, Townsville Citylibraries will debut bilingual story sessions, allowing Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and their families to participate in Auslan Storytime events for the first time.
Townsville Citylibraries Hosts Auslan Storytimes
Beginning on April 13th, the Auslan Storytimes will run from 10am to 11am on the second Saturday of each month at Citylibraries Flinders Street.
Auslan Storytimes are fun interactive storytelling sessions, aimed at supporting early literacy development in Auslan and written English.
Led by a Deaf presenter in Auslan, these sessions aim to create an inclusive environment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, fostering early literacy and communication skills while providing a safe space for reading, learning, and entertainment, and facilitating connections within the Deaf community.
Deaf Connect Auslan Storytime presenter Mark Hooper emphasised the significance of the program in nurturing confidence among young Deaf individuals.
Deaf Connect operates its program in NSW and Darwin and this will be the First 5 Forever-backed sessions in Townsville.
Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson highlighted the sessions as an excellent opportunity for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children, as well as their parents and guardians, to enhance their proficiency in Auslan and written English literacy.
For further details, check out the Auslan Storytime event listing on What’s On Townsville.
Image and news source: What’s On Townsville
