A young boy smiles with his hands in the air at a children's storytime session.

Published on 09 March 2022

Auslan interpreters for childhood literacy sessions

Onkaparinga libraries will now have Auslan interpreters at selected Storytime and Toddlertime sessions from March to July, providing a valuable service to junior hearing-impaired members of the community.

Auslan (Australian sign language) is the sign language of the Australian Deaf community. It was developed by people who are deaf so that they could communicate with others.

Delivery of these Auslan interpreted sessions has been made possible through a grant provided by the Australian Library & Information Association (ALIA) Online Storytime Project, with funds received from the Australian Government’s Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand Fund (RISE).

Auslan interpreters will be attending six early childhood literacy sessions across the city libraries from March to July. These sessions will be recorded and added to the libraries’ online storytime collection.

Woodcroft Library Team Leader, Kathrin Davidson, was delighted to learn funding for the interpreters had been awarded to Onkaparinga Libraries.

“As a public library service we strive to make sure our community has equal and fair access to information, knowledge and services," she said.

"We regularly deliver preschool literacy sessions each week across the city targeted to differing age groups including Toddlertime (18 months – 3 years) and Storytime (3-5 years)”.

"Having the Auslan interpreters at our Storytime and Toddlertime sessions will provide an opportunity for the Deaf community and the Hard of Hearing community to participate and will provide equal access to literacy and communication for all community members." 

Storytime and Toddlertime are fun, interactive sessions designed to encourage a love of reading for children using stories, nursery rhymes and activities. Next sessions, complete with Auslan interpreters are:

  • Storytime: Woodcroft Library – Thursday 10 March 2022 at 10am
  • Toddler Storytime: Noarlunga Library – Thursday 31 March 2022 at 10am
  • Storytime: Hub Library – Wednesday 13 April 2022 at 10am

Seaford, Willunga and Aldinga Libraries will also be featuring Toddler Storytime with interpreters. Dates are yet to be confirmed. Check for future sessions here.

For more information visit council’s website.