A taste of employment
The cafe equips students with practical experience and the option of gaining a hospitality qualification.
“From my experience here at Tradeblock, I feel like I could work in various workplaces," Precious said.
“I might not know initially [what to do] but I’ll understand the best way to learn and I’ll reflect on my experiences here and I’ll know what to do and how to go forward.”
Brent Phillips from disability support organisation Expression Australia says Rafael’s story of isolation isn't unusual.
"Now in 2019, we have hundreds of Deaf children who sit around the family dinner table and they're not able to understand or participate in a conversation that's happening,” Mr Phillips said using Auslan.
“These children are not provided the opportunity to learn or be exposed to Auslan from an early age.”
“Around 95 per cent of Deaf children in Australia are born to parents who are hearing,” Mr Phillips said.
“That means that their access to Auslan as a language is probably quite limited and depends a lot on the parents, how much they know and how informed they are in making the right decisions around access to communication at home and at school.”
