An exciting new collaboration is seeing the Canberra water sports scene become more inclusive. Dragon Boat ACT and DeafACT have been working together to integrate the deaf and hard-of-hearing community into the sport and will showcase their hard work in Regatta 5 at Grevillea Park on 11 February.
The program began a few years ago when Dragon Boat ACT applied for a grant from the local government to increase inclusiveness and include the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. However, the pandemic saw things put on hold for a while, before resuming last year.
“We had quite a lot of numbers interested; we have 14 in total. We’re really excited about the program and looking forward to the competition,” says Jacob Clarke, a DeafACT Board Member and previous president. Jacob says that Board member Kathe O’Brien being a paddler, was an integral part of the collaboration. Kathe is a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), and Auslan was her first language.
She joined the DeafACT Board last year and heard about the grant through the dragon boat community. The Board has worked with the Dragon Boat ACT to shape the program, using the grant money to make a video teaching hearing paddlers Auslan signs for the sport. In an Australian first, they created signs specifically for dragon boating.
“We didn’t have those dragon boat signs – for example, paddles flat – we wouldn’t have had that in Auslan, so that is something we made up,” says Kathe.
They created signs for stop the boat, slow the boat, hold, easy, sweep, and drummer. Kathe says not only has it been great for the deaf and hard-of-hearing paddlers, but the hearing paddlers are becoming more aware of Auslan, too.
“We are really pleased about accessibility and inclusion and we have an interpreter as Kathe is a dragon boater,” says DeafACT member Chloe Nash-Shannon.
Chloe has tried other sports like netball, touch football, and cricket, with varying levels of success, but there were always barriers. Deaf awareness training was provided through Deaf Sports Australia, however, she says this was a long time ago, and nothing has been happening since the pandemic.
“So Deaf and hard-of-hearing have sort of taken a step back, they don’t know how to access those opportunities, that’s why this dragon boat one has been terrific. If you make it accessible, they will come,” she says.
Previously on the Board for DeafACT, Chloe was excited to try the sport before things kept being delayed.
“A long time ago when I was driving over King’s Avenue or Commonwealth Avenue Bridge, I often wondered. I’d see the crews and I thought it would be interesting to be a part of it,” says Jacob.
Being part of the dragon boat community has encouraged them to get out of their comfort zone, out of the house, and meet new people. Both Choe and Jacob agree that this inclusivity will positively impact the mental health of those involved.
“The activity is a really good activity for the deaf community for our mental health and wellbeing,” says Chloe.
“Mental health issues can be potentially more prevalent in the deaf and hard of hearing community because they feel isolated, lonely,” says Jacob.
They say there are barriers to accessing mental health support in the ACT, with services not readily available for them. Kathe says one of the barriers is that there is a massive shortage of Auslan interpreters in our region.
“It’s an ongoing issue in Canberra, the lack of interpreters. The ACT Government has conducted an Auslan inquiry; we are just waiting on the report and specifically regarding the shortage of interpreters.”
Kathe says DeafACT is hoping the report will have suggestions for how they can include more services for their community. She says having someone who is Auslan fluent being involved in this program has been helpful; otherwise, if a deaf person was to show up at a sporting club wanting to be involved, they would surely be met with barriers.
“It’s no one’s fault, it’s not the hearing person’s fault, it is just the situation. That’s why we are all really excited about this program,” Kathe says.
DeafACT is keen for more organisations to contact them to set up a similar program, especially if they were able to access grants like Dragon Boat ACT did. Chloe says it would be wonderful for sporting clubs to include deaf awareness training through Deaf Sports Australia, which has resources.
For people who would like to learn Auslan, Jacob, who is an Auslan teacher, says there is a basic course to complete online under Deaf Connect, before moving to a face-to-face class. The paddlers are thrilled that some of their hearing teammates have been learning signs to help with communication out of the water as well.
“Doesn’t matter how small or how big of a way, the deaf and hard of hearing community are very patient people. We are happy to encourage and teach them as long as they’re trying,” says Chloe.
With training for the regatta well and truly underway, the crew have had three sessions so far and may try out different positions while getting used to the boat. Chloe says she thought her first session in the engine room, the boat’s mid-section, was smooth sailing.
“The second week of training I was in the second row of the boat, I thought it is a little bit hard. Then the third session I was in the front, and I realised how hard it was,” smiles Chloe.
Jacob thought the first session was the hardest and has found it easier each time. He says the learning is quite technical, especially with things like timing. A drummer helps with timekeeping on the dragon boat, and for this team it is Kathe.
“I am so very proud of them all, stepping out of their comfort zone. They are learning. and I can see from week one to week three they have improved so much. It is really amazing,” smiles Kathe.
Find out more about DeafACT, visit deafact.org.au or if you want to try your hand at dragon boating visit dbact.com.au
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