Deaf Children Australia

Deaf Children Australia (DCA) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation serving deaf and hard-of-hearing children, young people and their families. Its work combines family assistance, community development, education, advocacy, employment support and programs designed to improve participation in social, educational and working life. Although its historical roots are in schooling for deaf children in Victoria, the organisation now operates with a national remit and supports people at different stages of childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. The organisation's origins lie in the lack of educational provision for deaf children in nineteenth-century Melbourne. On 14 February 1859, Sarah Lewis wrote to the Melbourne Argus about the limited options available for her deaf daughter and the possibility that the child might have to be sent to England for education. Her letter helped prompt action from Frederick J. Rose, who was deaf himself. Rose opened the School for the Deaf and Dumb in Peel Street, Prahran, on 12 November 1860. As enrolments grew, the institution required a larger permanent site with accommodation and purpose-built facilities. In October 1866 it moved into the Bluestone Building at 597 St Kilda Road in Melbourne, a building that remains closely associated with the organisation's heritage. The institution's terminology and organisational role changed over time. In January 1949, the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution was renamed the Victorian School for Deaf Children, reflecting changing views about respectful language and the identity of deaf people. In February 2003, Deaf Children Australia was established as a national entity in response to the need for broader services and advocacy beyond a single Victorian school. The organisation's heritage work includes the Bluestone History Tour, which interprets the site's history and recognises figures such as F. J. Rose and the early supporters of deaf education in Australia. DCA's current services include a free, anonymous and confidential helpline for families, professionals, students and members of the public seeking information about deafness, hearing loss and relevant services. Its family programs include family support workers, a parent-to-parent network and a Parent Mentor Program. Trained parents and mentors provide practical and emotional support through individual contact, home visits, playgroups, parent gatherings and other community activities. DCA also offers Auslan courses for families, recreation programs and activities for young deaf people. The organisation provides communication, literacy and inclusion programs such as Auslan Story Time, the Auslan Spelling Bee and Deaf Awareness Training for workplaces. Its cyber-security awareness work is intended to help people, particularly young people, participate online more safely. DCA is also a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider, offering services that include support coordination, Auslan tutoring and youth capacity-building programs. Through its Sign for Work service, DCA supports deaf and hard-of-hearing people and other people with disability, injury or health conditions in preparing for employment, finding work and remaining employed. Services include job preparation, job matching, school-leaver assistance, workplace-modification advice and post-placement support. The service also works with employers on recruitment and accessible workplace practices. DCA delivered the Australian Government's Disability Employment Services program until 1 November 2025 and was selected to continue as a provider under the replacement Inclusive Employment Australia program. Its overall positioning is that of a community-based, deaf-informed support organisation combining direct services with family empowerment, accessibility education and advocacy.

Deaf Children Australia's history begins with the campaign for accessible education for deaf children in nineteenth-century Melbourne. On 14 February 1859, Sarah Lewis wrote to the Melbourne Argus to describe the absence of suitable local educational opportunities for her deaf daughter. She feared that the child might need to travel to England to receive an education. The letter drew attention to a significant gap in Victorian services and helped stimulate a local response. Frederick J. Rose, a deaf man, subsequently established the School for the Deaf and Dumb on 12 November 1860 in Peel Street, Prahran. The school was created to provide education and support within Victoria rather than requiring families to send children overseas. As the student population expanded, the initial premises became inadequate. A permanent site was developed at 597 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, where the Bluestone Building was established in October 1866. The building supplied educational facilities and accommodation and remains an important part of the organisation's physical and cultural heritage. The institution continued to evolve as social attitudes, educational practices and language changed. In January 1949 it adopted the name Victorian School for Deaf Children, replacing the earlier Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution terminology. This change reflected a move toward language regarded as more respectful and appropriate to the community it served. The organisation's historical role was connected primarily with schooling, but its broader purpose increasingly included family support, community services and advocacy. In February 2003, Deaf Children Australia was formed as a national organisation. The new structure responded to the need for services and representation for deaf and hard-of-hearing children throughout Australia, rather than concentrating solely on the organisation's Victorian institutional history. DCA expanded its activities into information services, family assistance, parent networks, Auslan learning, youth programs, workplace education and disability employment. The organisation's modern service model is built around helping families navigate education, early intervention and community systems. Its helpline supplies information and referrals, while family support workers and parent mentors provide practical guidance and lived-experience support. Parent-to-parent services connect families with trained parents through telephone contact, home visits, early-intervention playgroups, parent groups and community gatherings. DCA also offers Auslan courses for families and activities intended to strengthen communication, literacy and social participation. DCA's community programs include Auslan Story Time and the Auslan Spelling Bee, as well as recreation activities for families and young deaf people. It provides deaf-awareness training for workplaces, explaining communication strategies, deaf culture and practical accessibility measures. Its cyber-security awareness program addresses safe participation in digital environments, with particular attention to young people. DCA also publishes information and resources for families, professionals, students and the wider public. As a registered NDIS provider, DCA delivers support coordination, Auslan tutoring and youth capacity-building services. Its Sign for Work operation extends the organisation's mission into employment. The service assists deaf and hard-of-hearing people, as well as other people with disability, injury or health conditions, with preparation for work, job matching, school-to-work transitions, workplace modifications and ongoing employment support. It also advises employers before and after placements. Available program material indicates that Sign for Work operated across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia and was selected to participate in Inclusive Employment Australia after the transition from the former Disability Employment Services program on 1 November 2025. DCA preserves its institutional and community history through the Bluestone History Tour. The tour links the historic Melbourne building with the people and movements that established services for deaf children, including Frederick J. Rose and early community supporters. Through this combination of heritage, direct support, accessibility education and advocacy, Deaf Children Australia continues the work that began with the campaign for local deaf education in the 1850s and 1860s.

1. 2025Transition to Inclusive Employment Australia

   Sign for Work moved from the former Disability Employment Services program, which ended on 1 November 2025, into the Inclusive Employment Australia framework as a selected provider.

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2. 2003National Deaf Children Australia entity formed

   DCA was established as a national organisation to support deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families across Australia.

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3. 1949Name changed to Victorian School for Deaf Children

   The former Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution adopted a new name reflecting changing terminology and attitudes toward deaf people.

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4. 1866Bluestone Building established

   A permanent educational and residential facility was established at 597 St Kilda Road in Melbourne.

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5. 1862Organisation established

   The organisation traces its establishment to 1862 and its early work supporting deaf children and their families.

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6. 1860School for the Deaf and Dumb opens

   Frederick J. Rose opened a school in Peel Street, Prahran, to provide education for deaf children in Victoria.

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7. 1859Public appeal for deaf education in Melbourne

   Sarah Lewis wrote to the Melbourne Argus about the absence of suitable educational options for her deaf daughter, helping draw public attention to the need for local services.

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Australian deaf-informed nonprofit providing family support, Auslan and communication programs, community inclusion, disability services and employment assistance for deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

• DCA HelplineInformation and referral service

  A free, anonymous and confidential information service for families, professionals, students and members of the public. The helpline helps callers access DCA programs, locate specialist services, learn about deafness and hearing loss, and connect with parent or community support networks.

• Parent Mentor ProgramFamily support

  A peer-based program that connects families with trained mentors who have relevant lived experience. Mentors provide one-to-one guidance, emotional support and practical information about early intervention, education choices, service navigation and family life.

• Auslan Spelling Bee and Auslan Story TimeLanguage and literacy programs

  Programs designed around Auslan that encourage communication, literacy and participation among deaf and hard-of-hearing children and young people. They also create inclusive community settings for families and help make signed communication visible in educational and social activities.

• NDIS servicesDisability support

  DCA is a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider. Its listed services include support coordination, Auslan tutoring and youth services focused on capacity building and participation.

• Sign for WorkDisability employment services

  A specialist employment service supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing people and other people with disability, injury or health conditions. It provides job preparation, job matching, school-leaver support, workplace-modification advice and continuing assistance, while also helping employers recruit and support workers.

• Youth GrantsYouth development

  An annual grant program for deaf and hard-of-hearing people aged 12 to 23. Grants support activities intended to improve the lives of deaf people and their families and can recognise young people's achievements.

• Bluestone History TourHeritage and education

  A heritage experience at the historic Bluestone Building in Melbourne. The tour explains the organisation's origins, the development of deaf education and the contributions of people including Frederick J. Rose and early community supporters.

1. Deaf Children Australia
2. Deaf Children Australia official website