The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies will submit, publish and comment on relevant news and developments in the
Deaf sector. AFDS will also publish submissions to relevant Parliamentary and Human Rights & Equal Opportunities Commission inquiries. You can find our policies, position papers and here.

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Monday, September 22, 2008 11:48
Australian Federation of Deaf Societies releases National Policy Directives for Deaf Services and the Australian Deaf Community, 2008-2009

The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies (AFDS) today released the National Policy Directives for service provision to the Australian Deaf Community.

The Policy Directives outlines the key priorities where AFDS plans to work in conjunction with the Federal government to improve the services available to the Australian Deaf Community, and the vast issues facing Deaf service providers in Australia.
AFDS acknowledges the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons  with Disabilities, and looks forward to working with the Federal government regarding these policies to assist in removing barriers facing Deaf and hard of hearing Australians.

Alex Chapman, Policy and Strategy Coordinator for AFDS believes the policy document will assist the Federal government in producing targeted policy and programs to assist Deaf and hard of hearing Australians. "AFDS is in an excellent position to advise the Federal government about ways to remove barriers facing Deaf and hard of hearing Australians. As the representative body for Deaf service providers, the policies contained in the document will assist Deaf and hard of hearing Australians to achieve their full potential, by providing new, streamlined and efficient services to the Australian Deaf Community."

Download the AFDS National Policy Directives

Contact the Australian Federation of Deaf Societies

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September 22, 2008 9:54
AFDS and Australian Communication Exchange submission to Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network

AFDS, in coalition with the Australian Communication Exchange (ACE), have provided the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network with a submission and advice as to the minimum standards of operation for the National Broadband Network. Both AFDS and ACE believe that the National Broadband Network should, as an absolute minimum, be able to support the minimum requirements for Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) to at leat 98% of the Australian population.

This would significantly enhance the access of Deaf Australians in regional and rural communities to Auslan interpreting.

You can find a copy of the AFDS and ACE joint submission and further information about the Committee here, or you can view the submission here.

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June 23, 2008 12:05
Australian Federation of Deaf Societies and Australian Communication Exchange to submit to the National Broadband Network Inquiry

The Australian Communication Exchange (ACE) and AFDS are to jointly submit to the National Broadband Network Inquiry, requesting that the Department of Broadband, Communication and the Digital Economy ensure that the minimum standards
for the network will meet the requirements for Video Remote Interpreting. The submission will be available on this website
from July 25, 2008.

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May 28, 2008 15:46
Australian Free-to-Air networks apply to HREOC for extension of captioning agreement immunity

The Australian Federation of Deaf Societies is aware of an application on behalf of the free-to-air networks to extend the
current regulations with regards to television captioning. The proposal would mean that the networks would not have to abide
by the current agreement with HREOC to extend captioning to 100% of programming. This would allow the networks further
immunity if they breach the captioning requirements under the Broadcasting Services Act (1992). The AFDS believes this is
an unjustified and unneeded extension, and if successful would continue to limit Deaf access to free-to-air television. (read more) (PDF - 14KB)

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September 23, 2008 8:48
AFDS to submit to the National Broadband Network inquiry

AFDS will submit to the National Broadband Network inquiry, and request that the proposed national network have minimum speeds and standards in a move to support VRI. AFDS sees emerging technology and international trends to be moving towards the provision of VRI and believes that a National Broadband Network must be capable of supporting IP-based VRI.

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September 23, 2008 8:48
Australia 2020 Summit

AFDS has submitted to the Australia 2020 Summit regarding the situations of unfunded interpreting and the cost that inhibits Deaf societies as a result. (read more) (PDF - 24KB)

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Previous News:

The supply and demand for Auslan Interpreting across Australia, Department of Family and Community Services (read more)

AFDS submission to the Inquiry into Employment and Disability by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 2005. (read more) (PDF - 94KB)

AFDS submission to the Inquiry into the Provision of Mental Health Services in Australia by the Senate Select Committee
on Mental Health, 2005. (read more) (PDF - 75KB)