This blog was written by Maria Mead and Rebecca Quinnell from the Parliamentary Education Team in the Chamber and Education Services for the Queensland Parliament.

In September 2024, history was made at the Queensland Parliament. In collaboration with Deaf Connect and Queensland’s Department of Education, Australia’s first-ever Deaf Youth Parliament took centre stage, conducted entirely in Auslan (Australian Sign Language). This event was a powerful example of how Parliaments can offer valuable opportunities for inclusion, giving Deaf and hard-of-hearing students from across Queensland a real chance to experience governance in action.

Forty-four students from Years 6 to 12, alongside their teachers and support staff, gathered in Brisbane, travelling from towns as far afield as Townsville, Atherton and Mackay. Each took on a role as a Youth Member, participating in a true-to-life Parliamentary session. The event saw moving and lively speeches about key issues impacting the Deaf community, ensuring that the next generation of leaders have a platform to raise their voices.

Youth Empowerment in Action

In a powerful demonstration of leadership, 24 of the Youth Members delivered speeches, facilitated by Auslan interpreters from Deaf Connect. They tackled two motions: advocating for the inclusion of Deaf jurors in legal proceedings and pushing for mandatory closed captions at all cinema screenings. These issues highlighted the importance of accessibility and equality for the Deaf community, and the Youth Members didn’t hold back in expressing their views with clarity and conviction.

Kobe, a Year 12 student from Trinity Bay State High School in Cairns, took on the role of Youth Sergeant-at-Arms, carrying out his duties with confidence. Another student assumed the role of Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, announcing the Speaker in Auslan. This ensured an inclusive experience for all participants, including those who are still developing the confidence to ‘speak up’ in such a formal and unfamiliar setting.

Attended by many Members of the Queensland Parliament and the Director-General of the Queensland Department of Education, students took the opportunity to advocate for issues of importance to them. The issue of extending a bilingual and bicultural education programme from its existing primary school setting in the Western suburbs of Brisbane to a high school setting was raised by a group of students across several forums. This meant that it wasn’t just an opportunity for a mock debate, but a chance for students to influence decision makers directly.

An Historic First

Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, Hon. Curtis Pitt MP, presided over the session and stressed the importance of this event as a milestone in Parliamentary inclusivity. He said:

“This initiative marks a historic moment as Queensland Parliament becomes the first within Australian and New Zealand jurisdictions to deliver a Deaf Youth Parliament. We are committed to making civic engagement more accessible to all Queensland students.”

This sentiment was shared by Brett Casey, CEO of Deaf Connect, who highlighted the importance of empowering Deaf youth to engage with the political process:

“Deaf Connect are proud to be supporting the opportunity to empower Deaf youth and encourage them to be involved in the solutions that will impact their lives. A lack of information accessible to the Deaf community can lead to a reduced involvement in political processes – and we hope this starts a long-term interest in self-advocacy and representation for their community.”

Inclusivity in Every Detail 

The value of this Youth Parliament was not only in giving Deaf students a chance to debate, but also in ensuring a fully immersive, accessible experience for everyone involved. In the lead-up to the event, Queensland Parliamentary Service staff underwent Deaf Awareness training led by Chloe Haward from Deaf Connect. This ensured that all participants and staff were well-prepared to engage meaningfully throughout the day. 

In the Legislative Assembly Chamber, large screens were installed to make sure that all attendees – including participants, support staff and family members – could clearly see the proceedings and the Auslan translations, and bright orange lamps complemented the traditional bells to signal divisions, adding a layer of accessibility to an already inclusive event. 

Behind the scenes, participants from the inclusive filmmaking organisation Bus Stop Films worked with local videographers, R6 Digital, to capture footage. This partnership ensured that the day’s events were documented from a range of perspectives, reflecting the diversity and inclusion that the event sought to promote. 

A Memorable Experience 

Elizabeth Fletcher, Deputy Principal at Toowong State School, summed up the significance of the occasion, saying: 

“I wanted to say that in my 20 years in Deaf Education, the Deaf Youth Parliament was one of the most important events that I have witnessed. It was such an inclusive, informative and culturally significant day. Thank you so much for your hard work to make the day happen and your wonderful demeanour with the students on the day.” 

For Otis from Toowong State School, the youngest Youth Member to present speeches on the day, this experience was no doubt a stepping stone toward future civic engagement – an inspiration not only for him but for all students who took part and those who will later view the event on YouTube. 

Looking Ahead 

The Deaf Youth Parliament was the culmination of two years of conversation with key stakeholders and nine months of detailed planning. The success of the event demonstrated how inclusive, accessible initiatives can empower marginalised communities and foster deeper engagement with the Parliamentary process. 

As Queensland Parliament continues to explore avenues for making its programmes more accessible, the Deaf Youth Parliament stands as a shining example of how civic participation can and should be open to all. The event has paved the way for future Youth Parliament sessions that embrace inclusivity, ensuring that young people with disabilities and communication or learning differences will have opportunities to participate fully in the democratic process.

With this first-ever Deaf Youth Parliament setting the stage, the door is now open for similar initiatives across jurisdictions, driving forward a vision for a more inclusive parliamentary future. 

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has created a Youth Parliament Toolkit, which contains expert advice on establishing, planning, running and promoting a Youth Parliament with additional case studies and evaluation methods from across the Commonwealth. Read the full toolkit here.