UNSW Diversity Festival 2026: Our Journey in Auslan
Description
🎤 Join a riveting Q&A panel of members with various forms of hearing loss involved in the Deaf community. Discussing their lived experience and their Auslan Journey and reflect on its power to connect, empower, and transform.
Our Journey in Auslan is a dynamic panel event designed to spark curiosity, foster inclusion, and celebrate the richness of Auslan (Australian Sign Language) as a vital part of Australia’s cultural and linguistic landscape. Through lived experiences, expert insights, and creative storytelling, this event deepens our collective understanding of accessibility and belonging.
Panelists include:
Adjunct Professor Alastair McEwin AM – Born profoundly deaf, Alastair has expertise in disability rights and systemic reform. He is a former Disability Discrimination Commissioner and a Royal Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission. His affiliations with UNSW include working with the Disability Innovation Institute and as an executive for the UNSW Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026-2029. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Grattan Institute.
Dr Ayah Wehbe – An Australian Muslim woman, born in Sydney to Lebanese parents, who grew up navigating English, Auslan and Arabic after her hearing loss diagnosis at age five. Her experiences of identity and belonging inspired her to become an advocate and researcher specialising in disability, deafness and diversity. She completed her Bachelor’s, Honours and PhD at UNSW, where her doctoral work explored the intersectional experiences of Muslim women with deafness in Sydney. For over a decade, she has raised awareness, mentored others, reduced gaps between many communities (e.g deaf and Muslim), through research, advocacy, events and community engagement.
Christopher Makin – An accomplished and passionate Auslan teacher, with 8 years' teaching experience with various organisations, TAFE and Deaf Connect. With a background in cognitive science, Christopher also helped establish the Auslan Science Education Initiative at ANSTO, leading science workshops for Deaf Youth at schools across NSW since 2024, and facilitating the Deaf Youth Science Camp.
Luka Philios – Growing up hard of hearing, Luka has a strong commitment to accessible communication and community inclusion. They began learning Auslan in adulthood and completed Certificate II and III through Deaf Connect in 2024. Luka has a career in LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing spanning 14 years.
Visitor Safety Information
The health and safety of our patrons is our top priority, and this event will abide by the Public Health Order prevailing at the time. Please follow our conditions of entry, and check back here for updated information prior to the event.
Do not attend the event if you feel unwell, have recently experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms or are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.
Live Event & Venue
The Tyree Room is located in the John Niland Scientia Building at UNSW Sydney's Kensington Campus (G19 on map).
Access
Auslan Interpretered
Live Captions
Wheelchair Accessible
The John Niland Scientia Building is located at UNSW Sydney's Kensington Campus (G19 on map). The closest accessible drop off point to the John Niland Scientia Building is via Gate 11 Botany Street. The closest accessible parking is available in the Botany Street Parking Station (H25 on map).
Assisted Listening
Assisted listening like hearing loop can be provided upon request.
Parking & Public Transport
UNSW is easily accessible via public transport. Call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.
Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’. For more information head here.
About UNSW Diversity Festival
UNSW Diversity Festival is an annual celebration, this year taking place 21-25 September 2026. Diversity Festival brings students and staff together to embrace the diversity of our community and ignite conversations about how we can foster a more inclusive society.
Proudly hosted by EDI in the Division of Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement, the 2026 program features events and activities on themes and topics that include cultural diversity, neurodiversity, accessibility, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, sustainability and societal impact.
Find out what’s on at Diversity Festival 2026 and register for events.
For event enquiries or to discuss your access requirements, please contact Benice Tan at b.tan@unsw.edu.au.
Lineup
Adjunct Professor Alastair McEwin AM
Born profoundly deaf, Alastair has expertise in disability rights and systemic reform. He is a former Disability Discrimination Commissioner and a Royal Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission. His affiliations with UNSW include working with the Disability Innovation Institute and as an executive for the UNSW Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026-2029. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Grattan Institute.
Dr Ayah Wehbe
An Australian Muslim woman, born in Sydney to Lebanese parents, who grew up navigating English, Auslan and Arabic after her hearing loss diagnosis at age five. Her experiences of identity and belonging inspired her to become an advocate and researcher specialising in disability, deafness and diversity. She completed her Bachelor’s, Honours and PhD at UNSW, where her doctoral work explored the intersectional experiences of Muslim women with deafness in Sydney. For over a decade, she has raised awareness, mentored others, reduced gaps between many communities (e.g deaf and Muslim), through research, advocacy, events and community engagement.
Christopher Makin
An accomplished and passionate Auslan teacher, with 8 years' teaching experience with various organisations, TAFE and Deaf Connect. With a background in cognitive science, Christopher also helped establish the Auslan Science Education Initiative at ANSTO, leading science workshops for Deaf Youth at schools across NSW since 2024, and facilitating the Deaf Youth Science Camp.
Luka Philios
Growing up hard of hearing, Luka has a strong commitment to accessible communication and community inclusion. They began learning Auslan in adulthood and completed Certificate II and III through Deaf Connect in 2024. Luka has a career in LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing spanning 14 years.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
