In a world of noise and sounds, life can sometimes feel isolating for the hearing impaired. But a group of Mackay high school students in north Queensland are trying to make major national events like ANZAC day more inclusive.
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00:00This North Queensland classroom is about to become a hive of activity.
00:07But it certainly doesn't sound like it.
00:14Yeah, it's definitely different. Everyone's always so loud and always talking.
00:18But when you come in here it's really peaceful and it's quiet and it's calm and it's really relaxing.
00:24These Mackay students are learning Auslan with the help of dedicated teachers and members of the local deaf community.
00:31I've made some very good lifelong friends from Auslan and I now know another language so it's another way for me to be able to communicate with people.
00:41Soon they'll put their skills on show signing the Australian and New Zealand national anthems at their local Anzac Day service.
00:49Educators say it's a practical, lifelong skill.
00:53Why learn French, Japanese when you only use it at school?
00:57This you can use in and out of school.
00:59I have students in my class, when I say no talking they're across the class signing to each other.
01:04Oh good!
01:05Well as we all know in the workplace you have to be inclusive.
01:09So it's teaching them a skill that they can set themselves up for life to be able to simply communicate to a wider variety of people.
01:18The group has also been invited to perform at NRL home games for the North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.
01:24I stand in the middle and they're all surrounding me and I've got a big microphone and I sing the national anthem while they're signing it behind me.
01:30And it's a really cool experience, I love doing it.
01:33Those involved in the club say the impact on the community is significant.
01:38I know of some Anzacs and when they see me afterwards they say,
01:41Oh Brett, that touched their heart.
01:45Some even say it brought tears to my eyes.
01:47It touches them and it's something they don't forget.
01:50People who can't say it.
01:51Oh my God.
01:52I can't take care of them.
01:53Oh my God.
01:55Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
01:56It's a really cool thing, man.
01:58I want to unmute.
01:59There you go.
02:00I want to unmute.
02:01I love to unmute to unmute there.
02:03There you go.
02:04It's a great question.
02:05I'm sorry!
02:06It's a great question.
02:07I don't know.
02:08There you go.
02:09There you go.
02:10I'm sorry.
02:11There you go.
02:12It's a great question.