For immediate release
Bringing the deaf and hard of hearing people together is an urgent need. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted community and social interaction over the 2 years. Deaf Sports Australia was able to obtain funding for a ‘Deaf Hub’ in Endeavour Hills servicing surrounding Southeast suburbs of Melbourne, providing more localised services.
Minister Ros Spence MP, responsible for Community Sport confirmed this exciting news in a letter today congratulating Deaf Sport Australia on a “successful application and we look forward to working with you on this ground-breaking program to increase participation outcomes.”
General Manager of Deaf Sport Australia, Phil Harper commented that “this hub project is a way to bring the community back together through offering various sport, recreation, community and social development programs and provide a ‘return to community’ initiative.”
General Manager of Deaf Victoria, Philip Waters added “as the peak organisation for deaf and hard of hearing people in Victoria, we are pleased to work closely with Deaf Sports Australia to provide local community services. We look forward to providing advocacy and information services more locally to deaf people.
The project addresses social, mental, and physical health concerns through providing access to various sport, recreation, advocacy, community information and development programs to support deaf and hard of hearing Victorians including seniors, women, families, school-aged children, young people, deaf people with other disabilities or from a LGBTIQ and CALD background and the community as a whole.
In collaboration with Deaf Victoria, Casey Deaf Club, Endeavour Hills Neighbourhood Centre and Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre which is located in a metropolitan corridor where many deaf and hard of hearing people live, we will be able to work towards an ongoing sustainable community development and hub experience for them.
We hope this success, will lead to similar models in other areas.
More information in Auslan coming shortly.
Media contacts:
Deaf Sport Australia
Phil Harper
General Manager
phil.harper@deafsports.org.au
Deaf Victoria
Philip Waters
General Manager
Philip.waters@deafvictoria.org.au