Our Auslan Program is a Favourite among Kids

At Aspire White Hills, we’re always looking for ways to support every child’s development in a fun, engaging and meaningful way. That’s why we’re so proud to offer the Auslan program in partnership with Language Tree Australia - a weekly experience that has quickly become a highlight for many of our little learners.

During this second school term, our Pioneers (4-year-old Kinder), Discoverers (3-year-old Kinder), and Adventurers (2.5–3 years), are being introduced to Auslan, the sign language of the Australian Deaf community. Each week, the children take part in a small group session where they learn new signs and practise them through an interactive incursion.

The sessions are full of energy and expression, helping all children, including those who are bilingual or still developing their spoken language, feel confident to join in. For many of our children who are learning more than one language at home, Auslan provides an additional way to express themselves and connect with others. With songs, stories, and hands-on activities, the program encourages curiosity, builds vocabulary, and strengthens early communication skills. It’s wonderful to see how naturally children learn through play, repetition, movement, and meaningful interaction.

At White Hills we value every aspect of inclusion - learning Auslan also encourages empathy and inclusion by helping children understand that people communicate in many different ways, and that all ways are valid and valued.

What the children learn

We’ll explore some of the elements of Deaf Culture in an age-appropriate way. Your child will learn the fundamentals of Auslan and set themselves on a pathway to fluency, including fingerspelling the alphabet, learning how to fingerspell their name, and understanding HOLME (Handshape, Orientation, Location, Movement, and Expression), the vowels, and basic greetings and conversation- which will become more immersive and voice-off as their skills grow.

They’ll also learn how to ask questions and be introduced to a wide range of core sign language vocabulary, including colours, food, drinks, body parts, animals, and actions.

All the children respond incredibly well to the Auslan program. The amazing teachers from the Language Tree are teaching your child the fundamentals of Auslan in a fun and play-based way! It gives them a new and exciting way to express themselves, and we often see them proudly using the signs they’ve learned during play and group time. For children who are still developing their spoken language, having an additional way to communicate can be really helpful for them as well.

We love seeing the joy and enthusiasm this program brings each week. It’s a beautiful reminder how early exposure to different languages and forms of communication can open up a whole new world for them.

More about White Hills

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