Christmas is more special than ever this year with deaf and hard of hearing families now able to meet and sign with Santa across Australia.
On the Lower North Shore, Auslan Santa will be at Westfield Chatswood on Sunday 26 November.
The expansion will give more deaf and hard-of-hearing families across the country the chance to share their Christmas wish-list directly with an Auslan-fluent Santa.
Launched as a pilot program in 2022 in collaboration with Deaf-led advocacy body, Deaf Australia, Auslan Santa offers children who use Auslan as their primary form of communication the opportunity to meet and sign with Santa.
Scentre Group national community manager Pam Wilson said: “Auslan Santa touched the lives of children and their families, with sessions quickly filling up across the east coast last year. We know the program has been welcomed by the community and we’re delighted to offer the program more widely in 2023.”
Deaf Australia chief executive officer Jen Blyth said the 2022 launch was a ‘truly magical experience’ that needed to be repeated.
“Last year’s launch was a truly magical experience and we know our community was thrilled to be able to communicate with Santa for the first time. We are so excited that this experience will be available to even more deaf and hard of hearing children throughout Australia and we hope they have their wish lists ready.”
Auslan Santa followed the success of Sensitive Santa, a tailored experience available for those with sensory challenges, anxiety, disabilities, or families who simply require more time. Sensitive Santa started as a trial concept in one Westfield centre in 2017, before being rolled out to all 42 Westfield centres in 2019 across Australia and New Zealand where it still remains a national offering.
Westfield has announced the expansion of Auslan Santa to Westfields in South Australia, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
Bookings are now open for Auslan Santa at Westfield Chatswood on Sunday 26 November from 3pm-6pm. To book, go to santasvips.com.au or the Westfield site.
