Melbourne Polytechnic is proud to congratulate Anthony McKay, winner of the 2025 Outstanding Bridging and Preparatory Student of the Year, who completed the Diploma of Auslan PSP51018. His remarkable journey from the UK's deafblind sector to adding a second sign language skill with Auslan demonstrates the transformative power of vocational education and community connection.
Anthony's path to sign languages began with deeply personal roots. Growing up watching Sunday morning television interpreters and learning basic signs through Boy Scouts sparked his early interest. However, it was his grandmother's experience with age-related deafblindness that truly ignited his passion for breaking down communication barriers.
"I started to see the barriers she faced in hospital and in care homes, where she lost her hearing and didn't have the means to communicate with health professionals and carers," Anthony explains. This experience drove him to become a specialist teacher of deafblindness in England, where he worked with organisations supporting the deaf community.
While working in the UK's deafblind sector, Anthony began learning British Sign Language (BSL) through evening classes. However, his decision to emigrate to Australia presented a new challenge: learning an entirely different sign language. Australian Sign Language, or Auslan, has its own unique grammar, vocabulary and cultural context.
The timing proved perfect as it was just as the government's Free TAFE initiative made the Diploma of Auslan PSP51018 accessible at Melbourne Polytechnic. "I was like, this is unbelievable. I've just got here and it's going to become a free course," Anthony recalls.
What sets Melbourne Polytechnic's Auslan programs apart is the complete immersion approach. Every teacher is a native Auslan user and after just two weeks, all instruction occurs exclusively in sign language. This intensive environment creates rapid skill development and deep cultural understanding.
"The teachers didn't just teach you signs and linguistics. They really opened themselves up and shared their lives and their journey," Anthony notes. This personal connection enriched his learning beyond simply acquiring Auslan vocabulary.
A pivotal moment came during Anthony's placement at Expression Australia, an organisation supporting the deaf community. What began as a three-day placement evolved into ongoing work when he helped develop training materials for forklift licensing and driving theory tests. His background in education and advocacy proved invaluable in breaking down complex information for deaf learners.
This practical application of his skills demonstrates how Melbourne Polytechnic's work-integrated learning creates real pathways to employment and community contribution.
The award recognises not just academic achievement but Anthony's broader contributions to the learning community. He brought advocacy skills, cross-cultural perspective and a collaborative spirit that enriched the entire cohort's experience.
Melbourne Polytechnic's relaunched Collingwood campus now houses all Auslan classes, creating a vibrant signing community where students and teachers interact naturally in their shared language. This environment helps prepare graduates for real-world communication with Australia's deaf community.
Anthony's ultimate goal remains becoming a professional interpreter, which requires extensive community engagement and experience beyond formal study. His advice to future students emphasises grabbing every opportunity: "Everything you put into it, you'll get everything out of it."
Anthony McKay's success in Auslan learning shows that industry-connected, hands-on education can transform lives and build community connections. His journey across countries and multiple sign languages demonstrates how vocational training opens doors to meaningful careers in specialised fields and shows that practical skills can take you anywhere.
The Diploma of Auslan PSP51018 continues to prepare graduates for vital roles as interpreters, educators and advocates within Australia's deaf community, with success stories like Anthony's inspiring future students to pursue this rewarding pathway.
Learn Auslan—Australian Sign Language—the visual language of Australia’s Deaf community that uses handshapes, facial expressions and body movements to express meaning.
Melbourne Polytechnic offers a variety of courses designed to help you develop effective communication skills with Deaf and hard of hearing children and adults.