Hands Only

24/09/2026

A short video of my mum and me from many years ago, all because a balloon popped. 🎈

This is one of my favourite videos because my conversation with my mum felt so natural. You can see our facial expressions and communication. I wasn’t frustrated or crying because I didn’t understand what was happening. I was calm because my mum was communicating with me in Auslan.

At the time, my mum was learning Auslan alongside me, with support from a Deaf mentor and Teacher of the Deaf. I’m very grateful that she kept signing with me, no matter what was happening around us. She made sure I was included and understood what was going on.

Now I’m proud to be a Deaf mentor myself, helping other parents learn Auslan together with their Deaf or Hard of Hearing child.

To all the parents out there doing the same with your Deaf child, keep going and be proud of yourselves. It doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is giving your child access to communication, connection and language.

Early access to Auslan is so valuable. The earlier children have access to language, the more opportunities they have to communicate, learn and connect.

And if you or your child are starting Auslan later, it is never too late to learn!

If you have a Deaf or Hard of Hearing child under 5 or 6 years old, come and find me as a Deaf mentor. I’m here to support you as parents to learn Auslan alongside your child, together and at a level that suits their age, development and way of thinking.

You don’t need to know everything before you start. Learn together, grow together and enjoy the journey with your child. It is never too late, and I promise you, it is worth it.

We should be proud to celebrate Auslan, Deaf people, Deaf culture and our language, not only today, but every day.

Happy National Week of Deaf People, and Happy International Day of Sign Languages!

We celebrate together. Always.
💚💜🩵🩷💛

28/08/2026

Tomorrow will be a huge event at the Deaf Festival at Sydney Olympic Park!

There will be plenty of stalls to explore, and you may be able to buy Auslan books, learning resources, and other useful materials for your child and family.

I also run my own business, Hands Only, providing Deaf Mentor support at home for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children aged 0-6 years and their families.

I won’t have a Hands Only stall tomorrow, but I will be around at the Deaf Festival, so please feel welcome to come and say hello if you see us! :)💚🧡💙💜🩷

Everyone is welcome!

Hope you have a wonderful time at the Deaf Festival if you go!

Deaf Festival Sydney is back! All welcome on Saturday, 29 August 2026 at Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park.

06/08/2026

Becoming a sole trader has been one of the hardest things I've ever done. It's been almost five years now. I only managed to take a few photos over the past few months because I've been so busy.

I always make sure that every deaf child I work with has the support they need, while also supporting their parents and families. My passion has always been helping deaf children reach their full potential.

This year, I also travelled to Tasmania to support a fundraising project for deaf children in Tajikistan. I'm proud to say the fundraiser was successful.

I would like to give a special thank you to my two teachers of the Deaf. They have supported me every step of the way, always offering advice, sharing new ideas, and encouraging me throughout my journey of building my own business. Whenever I asked for guidance, they helped me see the bigger picture. Their belief in me has meant so much.

Many people don't realise how much I truly love my job. I work tirelessly, constantly researching and finding new activities that are suitable for deaf children. I want every child to learn through play, communication, and meaningful conversations. Seeing their confidence grow is what makes all the hard work worthwhile.

💛💜🩷💙💚

05/08/2026

You are not alone. We are all together. We support each other. You'll be alright. 💚💙🩷💜💛

12/06/2026

The drive home is often quiet, but my mind isn't.

Thinking about what worked, what I can improve, and how I can better support the children I work with.

Some days feel heavy, but the smiles, new signs, and growing confidence make it all worthwhile.

Being a Deaf Mentor isn't just a job. It's something you carry in your heart long after the day is over.
💜💚🩷💛💙

DeafCommunity HandsOnly

12/06/2026

Every success is built with patience and heart.

Watching my little clients thrive reminds me why I do what I do every day. Seeing their confidence grow makes every challenge worthwhile.

🩷💙💛💚💜

EarlyChildhoodEducation

03/06/2026

Auslan, Sign, Encourage, Play & Conversation 🩷💜💚💛🩵

These five foundations are at the heart of my work as a Deaf Mentor.

Every day, I support families to build connection, communication, confidence, and belonging with their deaf children.

I love sharing Auslan, encouraging children to express themselves through sign, supporting families to learn together, creating opportunities for play, and helping meaningful conversations grow.

There is nothing more rewarding than watching a child gain confidence, discover their identity, and feel proud of who they are.

I feel incredibly grateful to work alongside families on their journey.

I love my job and I am so proud of my beautiful little clients. They inspire me every day. 🌟💛

FamilyConnection PlayBasedLearning DeafCommunity Communication ProudDeafMentor Sydney

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to the beautiful mums shaping little hearts and growing bright futures 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜

Here's alphabet signing with my kids!

12/04/2026

💚💛💙💜💛❤️

12/04/2026

Today we all celebrate our beautiful language, Auslan. It’s Auslan Day on the 13th of April each year, and I feel so proud of all my little clients who are learning Auslan through Hands Only. I’m also grateful for each child’s wonderful family who are part of this second language journey with Auslan. It’s especially meaningful to see young children feel included, connected, and confident within their community.

With permission from some parents, I’ve shared a little video with you all. Many children are not included, as I respect the wishes and privacy of families, especially for those who are underage.

At Hands Only, we are passionate about supporting deaf children aged 0-5 during the most important years of language development. We focus on creating a rich visual learning environment, both in sessions and at home, so children can learn Auslan naturally through everyday routines, interaction, and family connection. Learning Auslan at home helps build strong communication, confidence, and a deep sense of belonging from the very beginning. Every child deserves to feel seen, understood, and included and through Auslan, we help make that possible.

❤️💜💚💙💛