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The first-ever Australian Auslan interpreted Auctioneering Championships went off without a hitch, galvanising attention for integrating this important service into standard industry practice.
Hosted by the Real Estate Institute of the Australian Capital Territory (REIACT), the test saw seven novice auctioneers compete for the title of champion, this time accompanied by the services of Mark Quinn, a certified interpreter in Auslan and English.
REIACT CEO Maria Edwards said that the competitors had all embraced the integration of Auslan interpretation in the event as they battled it out for the prize.
She noted that it’s important that the real estate industry makes strides to become more inclusive and accessible, and that the institutes have a role to play in setting that standard.
“At a time when housing affordability, interest rates and cost of living is stretching Canberran households, being able to be included in the conversation is a step towards empowerment for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community,” Ms Edwards said.
“One in six Australians have some form of hearing loss and may need an Auslan interpreter standing with the auctioneer to be able to participate in a property transaction ‘under the hammer’.
The territory institute partnered with the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) and Expression Australia to change up this iteration of the auctioneer competition.
Ms Edwards noted it was just the “first step in allowing access and inclusion for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in a property auction”.
Rebecca Adam, CEO of Expression Australia, agreed this was an important moment in what needed to be a continuing effort to bring “a level of communication for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community not experienced previously”.
“Expression Australia, REIACT and REIA have a long and rich history of providing the best services to the community,” Ms Adam said.
“Together we will be a part of the first steps to bring Auslan into the real estate industry, through industry best practice for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and an ongoing deaf awareness and capacity building program for real estate agents,” she added.
REIA President Hayden Groves said the partnership on this event was part of the institute’s commitment to a more diverse, sustainable and inclusive real estate industry.
“We are committed to enabling all members of our community to participate in all things property. Accessible real estate transactions are obviously an important component to this, and working to include the deaf and hard-of-hearing community is a great step towards that commitment. The REIACT’s Auslan competition was a great moment in auctioneering history.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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