Free Auslan resources: how to start learning Auslan for free

Auslan Signbank: the free Auslan dictionary

Auslan Signbank is a free online Auslan dictionary with videos of Deaf people signing each entry. You can search for signs about health and education topics, read about the Deaf community in Australia, and find links to Auslan classes. Use it to check a sign you have learned elsewhere, or when you need a sign you don’t know yet.

A free beginner course from a Deaf signer

Deaf author and artist Asphyxia offers Learn Auslan Level 1, a free online course of short video lessons. Most lessons teach around ten signs, which is a manageable amount to practise over a week. The course asks for donations to keep it running. Asphyxia notes that it reflects Auslan as used in Melbourne, and signs can vary between states, which our guide to Auslan regional dialects explains.

Free videos for watching real signing

Understanding other people’s signing is usually harder than producing your own, so watch fluent signers as well as studying signs. Deaf Connect’s Auslan Resource Library is a free collection of information videos in Auslan on topics such as health, finance and technology. The videos are made for Deaf community members rather than for learners, so expect natural signing. That makes them good practice once you know some basics.

The free parts of Auslan apps

Several Auslan apps are free to download and include some content at no cost, though full access usually needs a payment. Auslan Tutor 2, made by NextSense, includes a free pack of more than 100 common signs. Auslearn includes 3 free beginner units of video lessons from Deaf signers. Our comparison of Auslan apps sets out what each one gives you for free and what it charges for.

Apps are most useful for short daily practice between lessons. They are not a replacement for a class.

Free guides on this site

All of our Auslan guides are free to read and need no account. Good places to start are the Auslan alphabet, how to fingerspell your name, which includes a tool that spells any name letter by letter, and basic Auslan signs to learn first.

Getting a class for less

The step free resources can’t replace is a class taught by a Deaf teacher, and it is worth budgeting for. Beginner courses from Deaf community organisations such as Deaf Connect and Expression Australia are shorter and cheaper than a formal qualification, and both say their course profits go back into services for Deaf people.

If you want an accredited qualification, the Australian Government’s Free TAFE program covers tuition in selected courses for eligible students. Which courses are included differs by state and changes over time, so ask your local TAFE whether its Certificate II in Auslan is currently offered as a Free TAFE place. Some TAFEs also ask for previous Auslan study before you enrol, so a beginner community course is often the first step anyway. Our guide to Auslan courses and classes compares the options.

Make sure it is Auslan

When you search for free sign language lessons, much of what comes up is American Sign Language. ASL is a different language from Auslan, with a different alphabet, so it won’t help you talk with Deaf Australians. A quick check: Auslan fingerspelling uses two hands, and ASL fingerspelling uses one. For a full plan that fits these resources together, see how to learn Auslan.

Frequently asked questions

Can I learn Auslan for free?

You can start for free. The Auslan Signbank dictionary, free beginner video courses and the free sections of Auslan apps will teach you fingerspelling and everyday signs. Free resources cannot tell you whether you are signing clearly, so they work best as a way to begin and to practise between classes taught by a Deaf teacher.

Are there free Auslan courses online?

A few. Deaf author and artist Asphyxia offers a free beginner course of short video lessons, supported by donations. Most structured classes with a live Deaf teacher, such as those run by Deaf Connect and Expression Australia, charge a fee. Eligible students may be able to get tuition-free places in some TAFE courses through the Free TAFE program, so ask your local TAFE whether its Auslan certificate is included.

Is there a free Auslan dictionary?

Yes. Auslan Signbank is a free online Auslan dictionary with videos of Deaf people signing each entry. You can also search it for signs about health and education topics.

Is there a free Auslan app?

Several Auslan apps are free to download and include some free content, but full access usually costs money. Auslan Tutor 2 includes a free pack of more than 100 signs, and Auslearn includes three free beginner units. Check each app's store listing for what is free and what is paid.

Sources and further reading

The factual claims in this guide were checked against the following community, government and research sources.

• Auslan Signbank — Auslan Signbank
• Learn Auslan Level 1 — Asphyxia
• Auslan Resource Library — Deaf Connect
• How and where can I learn Auslan? — Aussie Deaf Kids
• Free TAFE — Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
• Auslan Tutor 2 on Google Play — NextSense

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