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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

K–10Auslan K–10 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation from 2026
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Early Stage 1

Interacting in Auslan

Content is provided for:

  • Additional: students learning Auslan as an additional language
  • Prior learning/experience: students learning Auslan with knowledge and/or experience from in or outside the classroom
  • First: students learning Auslan as their first language.
Exchanging meaning in interactions
Additional
  • Greet peers and teachers and exchange simple information about self and family in guided interactions using fingerspelling and key signs

  • Communicate in routine exchanges or play-based activities using key signs

  • Engage in activities using gesture and facial expressions for unknown signs

First
  • Exchange information about self, family and friends in classroom interactions

  • Communicate in routine exchanges or play-based activities

Using features of Auslan to communicate
Additional
  • Recognise the main formational elements of handshape, movement and location in signs

  • Observe how changes in handshape, movement and location change the meaning of signs

  • Reproduce key signs using correct location and handshape in interactions

First
  • Use the main formational elements of handshape, movement and location in signs

  • Recognise that signs can be organised by handshape in dictionaries, which can be used if the English word for a sign is not known

  • Identify the handshape of individual signs and identify signs that are made with a handshape

  • Recognise that depicting signs represent several things by a particular handshape

  • Use simple handling and size and space specifier depicting signs

Applying Auslan protocols
Additional
  • Follow common protocols in the classroom to gain attention

First
  • Communicate with peers and teachers using appropriate social protocols and attention-gaining strategies

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