Hello everyone, Winter has arrived here in Gippsland and our winter season starts for three months. That means skiing and snowboarding time for us in the mountains. There have events in the last few weeks and photos are included in this newsletter for you to have a look. At Vicdeaf—we do have Auslan Interpreter booking service that used to be called ‘Sign Language Communications Victoria for many years. This name has now changed to Auslan Communications with new logo—see page 3.

Here’s interesting menu from first deaf dining in Wellington, New Zealand. The main communication method used at that restaurant is in New Zealand Sign Language. Make sure you visit this restaurant if you plan to go to Wellington in near future. See more information on page 10. The road to National Disability Insurance Scheme organised by Yooralla in Gippsland area will happen soon—there is flyer in this newsletter. Auslan Interpreters will be provided and you can request one while doing online registration. I would encourage you to attend these workshops, as NDIS will be coming to Gippsland soon and it’s important

for you to understand what it will mean for you. I will attend workshop in Sale and you can join me there or other workshops closer to your home. This will be my last newsletter edition as I will be leaving my job at Vicdeaf. I will be moving back to Sydney. My last working day will be on Tuesday 30 June 2015. I had an amazing time working in Gippsland region as deafaccess Gippsland Coordinator role. I absolutely love my job despite uncertainty with future government funding changes for the next 12 months and beyond. During my 2 years working as deafaccess worker, I have seen deaf and hard of hearing people being empowered while living in isolated towns. I also noticed many service providers are being aware about deaf and hard of hearing people, and to ensure accessibility is there for everyone. I know this issue will be on-going but it is good to see that there have some developments throughout my time in Gippsland. I want to say many thanks for your support and welcoming me here in Gippsland. For future newsletter editions—this will depend when Vicdeaf will find another deafaccess worker. I assure you, Vicdeaf will let you know what is happening with this when they know more about it. Thank you and all the best. Stephen Nicholson deafaccess Gippsland Coordinator

NEWSLETTER deafaccess Gippsland

Edition: 129

June 2015

Deaf Emergency Response Workshop On Saturday 09 May, we had Deaf Emergency Workshop facilitated by Gabrielle Hodge at CFA Morwell. It was a very successful day and we reviewed new resource kit and provided many feedback. Resource Kit will be officially launched soon. More information will come soon!

Gippsland Deaf Regional Centre When: Saturday 13 June 2015 Time: 2pm onwards Where: House of Frank at 136 Franklin Street (same place as old name ‘Cargo’) Any questions—please contact Peter Adams—0419 693 889 SMS. Everyone is welcome.

East Gippsland Deaf/Hard of Hearing Social Club When: Sunday 21 June 2015. Time: 11.30am to 2.00pm. Where: Bairnsdale RSL on Princes Highway, Bairnsdale. Any questions—please contact Matthew Tantaro—0400 036 374 SMS. Everyone is welcome.

Gippsland Deaf/Hard of Hearing Social Day

When: Friday 17 July 2015. Time: 5pm onwards. Where: Traralgon Bowling Club at 50 Liddiard Road, Traralgon. Any questions—please contact Julie Patterson—0481 447 149 SMS. Everyone is welcome.

Lakes Entrance Morning Tea Helen and I visited Lakes Entrance in May to meet local deaf and hard of hearing community for morning tea. It was good to meet people and provided networking information. Next gathering will be at end of June—if you are interested to join next time, please let me know and I will confirm with you when I know date/time.

New Zealand’s first Deaf dining restaurant opens in Wellington

CQ Hotels in Wellington is offering guests a unique dining experience, launching the country’s first ever restaurant menu in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). The menu, unveiled during Deaf Awareness Week (4-10 May 2015), includes NZSL symbols so diners can sign to order to order their meals and communicate with staff. The hotel has employed four Deaf staff for the month of May to work alongside staff at CQ Hotels who have leant NZSL by completing courses run by NZ Deaf highly skilled tutors. Customers can learn basic sign language through cheat sheets and graphics incorporated into the menu which will become a permanent fixture in the restaurant over the next 12 months.

CQ Hotels General Manager Olivier Lacoua said he wanted to change the perception that people who are deaf were disabled, when in fact, they just spoke another language. “This is a unique experience and it’s going to be a lot of fun. I want to break down that barrier of communicating with Deaf people. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.

Mr. Lacoua says there is also a great need in people who are deaf for employment opportunities.

“We are truly committed to equal employment opportuni-ties and employ several people with a disability at the hotel. I hope our initiative will inspire other businesses to follow in our footsteps.”

As one of the country’s official languages, NZSL is used daily by more than 24,000 New Zealanders, and it is the 12th most frequently used language, out of approximately 190 languages, currently used in New Zealand. Website link accessed via Global Accessibility News: http://globalaccessibilitynews.com/2015/05/11/new-zealands-first-deaf-dining-restaurant-opens-in-wellington/

Auslan Tutorial Wanted!

Pam Mead, who has a deaf and autistic son and needs to learn Auslan. Pam is unable to attend any Auslan classes. If you are interested to provide Auslan one to one tutorial to Pam in Moe/Newborough area. Pam’s contact details are: littleonepam@yahoo.com.au and 0428 449 001.

Community Course—Auslan

To learn AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language). Auslan

Class at Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House.

11-13 Breed Street, Traralgon.

Teaching by qualified tutor, Peter Adams.

Classes start at 6pm till 7.30pm.

1 1/2 hours X 10 Sessions.

$170 per person. Concession $150 with proof

card.

Contact Co-ordinator Jenny Poon, Email:

tnh@wideband.net.au. Phone : (03) 5174 6199.

Sign Language becomes an official language in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea's government has officially endorsed sign lan-

guage as the country's fourth official language, alongside English,

Tok Pisin and Motu.

Papua New Guinea’s government has officially

endorsed sign language as the country’s fourth official

language, alongside English, Tok Pisin and Motu.

The religion, youth and community development

minister, Delilah Gore, says this will allow speech and

hearing impaired people to ensure their need and

rights are heard.

The Post Courier reports a senior inclusive resource

officer, Christine Kenia, welcoming the announcement,

saying the deaf community in PNG has waited too long

for their rights to be heard.

Website link accessed via Radio New Zealand

International: Papua New Guinea's government has officially endorsed sign lan-

guage as the country's fourth official language, alongside English,

Tok Pisin and Motu.

Papua New Guinea's government has officially endorsed sign lan-

guage as the country's fourth official language, alongside English,

Tok Pisin and Motu.

Papua New Guinea's government has officially endorsed sign lan-

guage as the country's fourth official language, alongside English,

Tok Pisin and Motu.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/274199/sign-language-becomes-an-official-language-in-pngua New Guinea's government has officially

endorsed sign language as the country's fourth official language,

alongside English, Tok Pisin and Motu.

Card skimming crooks steal $100,000 from Latrobe Valley ATMs

More than $100,000 has been stolen from ATM users in Victoria's Latrobe Valley on the Easter long weekend.

Westpac Bank and police have confirmed that an organised card skimming operation has been operating in the area, in the state's south-east.

Customers of a number of banks at Morwell and Traralgon have reported thousands of dollars missing from their accounts from Good Friday and on the weekend.

A Westpac spokeswoman said the bank's security division detected a card skimmer attached to the ATM at the Morwell branch and removed it on Saturday.

Latrobe Valley Detective Rob Ormerod said at least 50 people had reported stolen amounts of $1,000 plus.

He said anyone affected by card skimming should first contact their bank.

"The most important thing is that you cover the pin pad when you enter the pin," he said.

"Even if the card is skimmed, they must have the pin number.

"Without the pin number the information obtained from the card is useless." Website link accessed via ABC News:

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-09/100k-fleeced-from-latrobe-valley-atms/6379560

Writing Successful Grant Application workshop organized by Latrobe City Council

Latrobe City Council organised this workshop on 27/05/2015 and they provided Auslan Interpreter for deaf participants. It was a very successful event, with 3 deaf participants and about 100 people there. They provided many tips how to do grant writing effectively.

Latrobe City Council is organising another workshop on 17/06/2015. It will be ‘Governance’ and it will be in Churchill. Auslan Interpreter will be provided if you are planning to attend this workshop.

DEADLINES FOR INCLUSION IN NEWSLETTER 2015

If you would like to include notices about events please send them to

deafaccess before:

To be confirmed by Vicdeaf

The deafaccess Gippsland newsletter is available online at www.vicdeaf.com.au

If you don’t have computer and want to see the internet links or

files in this newsletter:

Please contact deafaccess – Gippsland for a copy.

Email – gippsland@vicdeaf.com.au

SMS – 0408 637 880

deafaccess Gippsland

Office: 52 - 54 MacArthur Street, SALE, Victoria 3853 Postal: P.O. Box 9314, SALE, Victoria 3853

Mobile/SMS: 0408 637 880 Email: gippsland@vicdeaf.com.au

deafaccess – Building Inclusive Communities