Wonthaggi is a friendly coastal town with beautiful beaches, fresh sea air, and a strong sense of community. It’s part of the Bass Coast Shire, where the local council is working to make sure people of all abilities can participate in community life.
On Tuesday 25th March 2025, the Deafblind Victoria team travelled to Wonthaggi to deliver a Deafblind awareness workshop in a historic brick building that was once a Post Office. 25 people from the Bass Coast Shire council attended the workshop and learned about how streets, parks, services and facilities can be safe and inclusive for deafblind people.
Three deafblind people led an immersive activity, gave a presentation about deafblindness and shared personal stories: Jackie Sciberras, Jasper Cleland and Heather Lawson. We worked as a team to explain how we overcome barriers and isolation, and welcome new deafblind people to our community so we are not alone. Participants learned about self-advocacy, deafblind communication and technology, and asked lots of questions. They were fascinated by the display table of deafblind technology, with a braille phone, portable CCTV and other devices.
Thank you Bass Coast Shire Council for inviting DBV to come and deliver this workshop. It was great to meet everyone there. Thanks also to the deafblind presenters and interpreters who made the effort to travel to the region to raise awareness; it’s really important!
Participant feedback:
- I would like to congratulate everyone involved in presenting an extremely informative workshop. I personally wish you all the very best for your wonderful work you do and the services you provide for Deaf and blind community.
- It was great, having multiple presenters and various lived experience stories was great and very effective to show different styles of communication.
- I am now aware of just how many forms of communication these are. And how tactile they can be. Applauding while stamping!
- Deaf Blind people need/experience the world through touch and enjoy sensory experiences through smell – things I never considered.
- Was very interesting to learn different causes of deaf/blindness, ways in which the deaf/blind community communicates.
- So much! I loved the experience and personal stories. It provided so much insight into what deafblind living is like. It is a great experience to learn from those that are deafblind. So very powerful.
- It was so great, I feel very privileged to be invited and attend such an amazing workshop.
- New insights into the lived experience for deaf blind people. Empathy and respect for how skilled the presenters are and barrier deaf blind people experience and technologies and communication tools and techniques.
