The Auslan Fire Alarm Subsidy Initiative

The Auslan Fire Alarm Subsidy was launched by the Victorian Government. It is a special program to give deaf people flashing light fire alarms at a cheap price. The aim of the program is to give 600 fire alarms to profoundly deaf Auslan (Australian sign language) users. This will happen between 2006 – 2008.

Vicdeaf is the administrator for the program. Partners in the program are the Victorian Government, Victorian Council of Deaf People (VCOD), the Deaf Blind Association (DBA) and both the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) and Country Fire Authority (CFA).

A working party includes representatives from VCOD, DBA, Vicdeaf and DHS (the Government). This group will decide who gets the fire alarms.

To get a fire alarm, you must:

1. Be profoundly deaf
2. Use Auslan or another Sign Language as your main way of communicating
3. Be over 18 years old or living independently
4. Be able to give the working group:
1. Two (2) references from a service, deaf club or social group
   where Auslan is the main way of communicating or;
2. One (1) reference from a facetoface meeting with a member
   of Vicdeaf, Victorian Council of Deaf people (VCOD) or the DeafBlind Association (DBA) or;
3. Any other information that proves you meet the eligibility
   criteria

and you must not:

1. Live in:
• DHS Office of Housing accommodation (e.g. Public Housing) or;
• DHS Disability Services accommodation (e.g. Community
  Residential Unit)
2. Be able to get money for a fire alarm from any other source of government funding.

Note: There is a limit of one fire alarm per house.

How to Apply

You can get an application from the Vicdeaf website. Look for the link called “fire alarm subsidy” at:

http://www.vicdeaf.com.au

or

Contact Vicdeaf by phone, TTY, email, fax or post us a letter (see below).

If you need more information about this subsidy or information about fire alarms that can help Deaf and hard of hearing people, please contact Vicdeaf.

Vicdeaf
Attention: Fire Alarm Subsidy
Email: firealarm@vicdeaf.com.au
TTY: 9473 1199
Voice: 9473 1111
Fax: 9473 1122
Post: Level 4, 340 Albert Street
East Melbourne 3002