Australia’s only daily news service delivered in Australian Sign Language will go off air next month as its federal government funding comes to an end.
Auslan90 covers the day’s top stories, presented purely in Auslan by Deaf journalists, reporting on international wars, elections, cyclones, and fuel shortages.
The videos, produced by Deaf Connect, are shared on social media and have reached more than 300,000 Australians since the program launched in 2024.
Auslan90 has produced more than 400 news bulletins. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
The non-profit organisation’s chief executive, Brett Casey, said the program provided the news to the Deaf community in their first language.
“A lot of Deaf people in the community, English is their second language,” he told the ABC, speaking in Auslan, via an interpreter.
“They have a grasp of that second language to a varying degree.”
The last show will be filmed on June 30 with funding from a grant ending.
The program has already produced more than 400 news bulletins.
Mr Casey said without the service, the Deaf community’s access to news was “very limited”.
Brett Casey says the program provides news to the Deaf community in their first language. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
“If you think of a hearing person … they can wake up in the morning, turn on the radio, turn on the TV and go about their daily chores while absorbing the news,” he said.
“So, they have many opportunities to access that information and therefore make more informed decisions.
“But for Deaf people, the only access is one time a day that they can access news in their first language, which is Auslan.”
He said Auslan90 was able to explain to the Deaf community important news stories, such as the connection between the Iran war and rising fuel prices in Australia.
“Those issues do have a significant impact on [a] person’s life and ability to make an informed decision.”
Understanding news clearly
Marcia Girke-Boylen, who was born deaf, said she does not miss an episode of Auslan90.
Marcia Girke-Boylen says she understands the news completely when she watches Auslan90. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
“It’s so valuable,” the 82-year-old told the ABC, speaking in Auslan, via an interpreter.
“My first language is Auslan, and I grew up using Auslan”.
The Toowoomba resident said English subtitles on the TV were too fast to read.
“I do miss out on a lot of the words that were happening, and some of it [doesn’t] make sense,” Ms Girke-Boylen said.
She said the program had helped her understand the news “clearly” and gave her “100 per cent of the information”.
Ms Girke-Boylen said that made her feel happy and confident.
“That’s really important for the Deaf community and myself,” she said.
Marcia Girke-Boylen says she watches Auslan90 bulletins each day. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
Without Auslan90, Ms Girke-Boylen said she would be “depressed”.
“I will miss out on a lot of world events if it stops,” she said.
“I’d be going back to those barriers again and struggling with the English and the subtitles.“
Ms Girke-Boylen said she wanted the news service extended to a full half-hour.
Government ‘recognises the importance’
When the program was announced, the then social services minister, Amanda Rishworth, said the initiative would help ensure the Deaf community could access news and current affairs programs in their first language.
“Our government is committed to creating a more inclusive and accessible Australia,” the Labor MP said in a 2024 media release.
A health department spokesperson said Auslan90 had received funding through an information, linkages and capacity building (ILC) program grant to June 30.
They said grants from the ILC program would “gradually cease” as it was being replaced with a new disability peer support and connections program.
Applications for the new scheme, announced in April, are set to close in July, with successful activities due to commence in July 2027.
The spokesperson said decisions on funding were a matter for the government and were considered through established processes.
Auslan90’s last show will be filmed on June 30. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
“The government recognises the importance of accessible communications, including the provision of information in Auslan,” they said.
Health Minister Mark Butler was contacted for comment.
‘Deaf people missing out’
Deaf Connect asked for ongoing funding for the news service in its submission ahead of the federal budget that will be handed down on May 12.
Mr Casey said there were options outside that, but he was not sure whether they would be sustainable or whether they could receive support by June 30.
Auslan90 is delivered by Deaf presenters across the country. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
He said the government funded news in other languages.
“So why again are Deaf people missing out and can’t access news in their language?“
“The community have been calling out for news in their language,” Mr Casey said.
The ABC News’ 5pm national news bulletin on Sundays is picture-in-picture Auslan interpreted and closed-captioned.
The bulletin, which also includes a two-minute weekly news recap, can be watched weekly on ABC News Channel and ABC iview.
