Posted in Deaf Community News

In November NABS attended the National Indigenous Health Conference in Cairns.

NABS Interpreter Elizabeth (Liz) Temple presented on improving access and health outcomes for Indigenous Deaf people in the Northern Territory.

There was lots of valuable information shared, including a keynote speech by Paul Higginbotham, CEO of Earbus Foundation WA.

Over 200 people attended the three-day event, many of whom visited the NABS stand.

Among the friendly faces at the recent World Federation of the Deaf Conference in Sydney was Shamila, from the YMCA Madurai in India.

She shared with NABS some initiatives of the YMCA, such as the Services Centre for the Hearing Impaired, Special School for Mentally Challenged and YMCA Sports and Games Centre.

Since the introduction of a special school in the 1970’s, nearly 1,200 boys and girls have successfully completed their studies in speech language, auditory training and lip reading.

This includes students from pre-school age, right through to a Higher Secondary level of education.

NABS provided Shamila (YMCA Secretary) with some NABS pens and information bags to take back to students and teachers at the School for the Deaf.

Located in Southern India, the Madurai YMCA is involved in a wide range of social action programs with a motive to educate and empower people through its projects in and around the city.

You can find out more about the Association on its website: http://www.ymcamadurai.com/Servicescenter.html

Festival-goers were seeing orange as they made their way past the outside entertainment, food stalls and rides towards the NABS stand at the Brisbane Deaf Festival in Toowong.

Run in conjunction with the Toowong State School Fete, the festival was held on Saturday, October 26 and attracted a wide range of families, community groups and interpreters.

NABS headed to Sydney on Wednesday, October 16 for a big week of celebrations at the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and ASLIA National Conference (ANC).

As bronze sponsors of the WFD Conference, NABS hosted an exhibition stand and had representation at the popular, International Deaf Film Festival.

NABS connected with Deaf Consumers and Interpreters from not only across Australia, but around the world.

WFD welcomed more than 600 delegates over the four-day event, including presenters from Nepal, Finland, Albania, America, the United Kingdom, Sweden, India, New Zealand and Russia.

NABS was also a partner of the 2013 ANC, which followed the WFD forum.

In addition to an exhibition stand, NABS provided a $500 grant towards the attendance of one NABS/ASLIA interpreter – won by Victorian interpreter Michael Egan.

As part of a running competition on the day, NABS also awarded two other lucky interpreters with $250 towards Professional Development of choice (Linda Finucane), and one year’s membership to ASLIA (Alana Wiekart).

Congratulations Michael, Linda and Alana.

The celebrations didn’t stop there, with President of ASLIA Queensland and NABS Diploma of Interpreting trainer, Merie Spring, taking out the title of Interpreter of the Year for 2012.

NABS had a very successful few days in Sydney, and was pleased to see both familiar and new faces at its booth to collect information brochures and merchandise.

Wesley Mission Brisbane is registered with DisabilityCare Australia to provide Interpreting and Translating Services to eligible participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).  The National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS) and National Interpreting & Communication Services (NICSS) are activities of Wesley Mission Brisbane.  These activities will provide interpreting services on behalf of Wesley Mission Brisbane.

What is DisabilityCare Australia?
DisabilityCare Australia is the national disability insurance scheme.  It will support eligible people with permanent and significant disability, their families and carers.

DisabilityCare Australia is rolling out in stages:

Locations that start from July 2013:          

From July 2016, DisabilityCare Australia will continue to extend to more locations and age groups across Australia.

For more information you can visit the DisabilityCare Australia website on http://www.disabilitycareaustralia.gov.au/.