Deaf Children Australia (DCA) is a national not-for-profit organisation that supports deaf and hard-of-hearing children and young people and their families in Australia.
DCA was established in 1862 to meet the needs of deaf children and their families. DCA is housed in the Bluestone Building, built in 1866, in the Victorian capital of Melbourne.
History On 14 February 1859, Mrs. Sarah Lewis wrote a letter to the Melbourne Argus newspaper, expressing her concern about the lack of education options for her deaf daughter. She mentioned that without proper facilities in Melbourne, she would have no choice but to send her daughter to England for her education. In response, Frederick J. Rose, a deaf man himself, took action and opened the School for the Deaf and Dumb on 12 November 1860 in Peel Street, Prahran.
As the number of students increased, it became necessary to have a permanent facility that could also provide accommodation. Consequently, in October 1866, the Bluestone Building at 597 St. Kilda Road was established. This building provided a stable environment and proper facilities to support the education of deaf children.
In January 1949, reflecting a shift towards more respectful and inclusive terminology, the institution's name was changed from the Victorian Deaf and Dumb Institution to the Victorian School for Deaf Children.
By February 2003, in response to the growing need for more comprehensive and national-level services, the decision was made to establish Deaf Children Australia (DCA) as a national entity. The aim was to advocate for and support all deaf and hard-of-hearing children across Australia, ensuring that they have access to quality education and resources regardless of location.
DCA also keeps deaf history and heritage alive through the Bluestone History Tour. The tour traces where the organisation began and what it has meant to the community over time. Visitors learn about the people behind that work, including F. J. Rose, along with the early supporters who helped build services for deaf and hard of hearing children across Australia.
Current Day Services
Helpline DCA's free, anonymous and confidential helpline provides assistance for families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The helpline can also answer questions from professionals, students, and the public on deafness and hearing impairment. The helpline provides: Access to DCA's services. Information and contact details for specialised services. Information on deafness and hearing impairment for families, students, professionals, and the public. Connection to support groups for parents.
Community Support Deaf Children Australia (DCA) runs a range of community support programs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and for their families.
The Parent Mentor Program pairs families with trained mentors who have lived experience. Mentors offer one-on-one guidance, emotional support and practical advice covering early intervention, education pathways and community services.
The Cyber Security Awareness Program builds the knowledge and skills people need to take part online safely. It has a particular focus on young people.
Workplaces can book the Deaf Awareness Training Program. It covers communication strategies, deaf culture and the practical changes that make a workplace genuinely accessible for deaf and hard of hearing employees.
DCA also runs the Auslan Spelling Bee and Auslan Story Time. Both build literacy and communication skills, and both bring people together in settings designed around Auslan.
DCA provides an information service that produces publications and resources as well as a community development service that provides deaf awareness training.
DCA also provides family support workers to help navigate services for parents with a deaf or hard-of-hearing child.
Each semester DCA provides Auslan (Australian sign language) courses for families.
Other services include organising recreation events for families and young deaf people.
NDIS Services DCA is a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider. NDIS services include support coordination, Auslan tutoring, and youth services for capacity building.
Parent-to-Parent Program The DCA's parent network has trained support parents who are available to meet with families over the phone or through home visits, at Early Intervention Centre playgroups, Parents of Deaf children (POD) group picnics, and other activities. Support parents can provide group or one-on-one support.
Youth Grants Every year, DCA provides grants for deaf and hearing-impaired people between the ages of 12 and 23. Grants up to $2500 are awarded to assist in implementing activities that improve the lives of deaf people and their families, as well as in recognition of the achievements of young people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Sign for Work Sign for Work is DCA's specialist disability employment service. It operates as a business of the organisation. The service supports people who are deaf or hard of hearing, along with people who have a disability, injury or health condition, to prepare for work, find a job and stay employed.
The service delivered the Australian Government's Disability Employment Services program until 1 November 2025, when Inclusive Employment Australia replaced it. Sign for Work was selected as a specialist provider under the new program.
Services include assistance with job preparation and job seeking, support for eligible school leavers, advice on workplace modifications, and ongoing support for people who are already employed and experiencing difficulty in their role. The organisation states that its consultants include staff who use Auslan, and that it arranges Auslan interpreters for job interviews.
Sign for Work is contracted to deliver Inclusive Employment Australia across 19 employment regions in four states: five in New South Wales, five in Queensland, five in Victoria and four in South Australia. It operates a main hub in each state, at Melbourne, Toowong, Bankstown and Norwood, with further offices open by appointment.
In 2022-23 the Portable Long Service Authority reported that the service was assisting more than 180 people in Victoria and 50 in Queensland.
This September 2024 quarter performance scorecard shows the performance of Sign For Work against quality and effectiveness measures. Sign for Work delivered the Australian Government's Disability Employment Services program until 1 November 2025, when Inclusive Employment Australia replaced it. Sign for Work was selected as a provider under the new program. It states that it delivers the program from locations in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
See also Frederick J Rose Victorian College for the Deaf
References
External links Official Website Sign for Work