With the right communication supports, people who are deafblind can thrive, connect, and fully participate in community life.
That’s exactly what Able Australia’s Deafblind Camp is all about. This April, with support from The Lionel & Yvonne Spencer Trust and the Olver-Carlyle Charitable Foundation, deafblind adults from across Australia will come together for a fully accessible, community‑designed camp experience created by and for people who are deafblind.
Camp coordinator, Alex Sar, who is deafblind, shared what makes this camp so special:
Led by lived experience:
“A committee of four deafblind leaders is shaping every detail, from activities and safety to accessibility and communication design. They will run some of the activities, including Jasper’s Tactile Craft workshop and Kimberley’s Tactile Games.”
Monthly meetings, take place with translators to ensure everyone can contribute meaningfully.
Alex – Deafblind Camp Coordinator
Kimberley – Deafblind Camp Committee
Jasper – Deafblind Camp Committee
Rodney – Deafblind Camp Committee
What does the camp mean to you?
Kimberley: Right from the very first time I attended, the Deafblind Camp has provided me with opportunities to connect with other people in our small but far-flung community. This has meant the world to me, as I no longer feel isolated: I know I have friends out there, who are living their best life too. And camp is a great way for us to get together and catch up!
Jasper: It is a time of connection that I always look forward to. We have an extended period of time where we can come together as a community and support each other through our shared experiences. It is also an opportunity to have a lot of fun with friends and peers in a safe space and have experiences that we wouldn’t usually have access to.
Rodney: To me, the camp is a little holiday away from home. It’s an opportunity to do some activities I’ve never done before.
How would you describe the camp to someone who has never been before?
Kimberley: For me, camp is an enjoyable experience of meeting up with old and new friends, learning and updating the knowledge, skills and techniques that I use to live my fullest life. All while being supported to explore lovely, laid-back camp settings that I wouldn’t get the opportunity to experience otherwise. It’s fantastic!
Jasper: It will be an unforgettable experience! You will be surrounded by Deafblind community. We have a range of communication types, but we make it work, and we have support where needed to make it work. We have a fantastic mix of learning from each other and just having fun together. My first Deafblind camp was the turning over of a new page in my life. I came to Melbourne for a camp, while living in very isolated circumstances, with almost no support. I made a lot of community connections, learned about how much more support was available for Deafblind people in Melbourne, and decided to move here. Three months later I was living in Melbourne, and it was the best decision I could have made!
Rodney: It’s always a little bit different each time. There’s a disco night which is always fun. On the first night we have a campfire and cook marshmallows! These are just some of the activities that I enjoy the most. There is also a workshop.
What makes this camp special or different?
Kimberley: Honestly, the fact is that no camp is ever the same: from different campers and supporters attending each time, giving us old friends to catch up with and new ones to meet; to trying out different campgrounds, with new menus, activities and workshops available to check out. It’s all part of the adventure!
Jasper: I feel like every Deafblind camp I have been to holds a special place in my heart, but this one is different, and it is going to be fabulous! There is support from sighted hearing staff, but as well as the whole planning committee being Deafblind, the camp coordinator, Alex, is Deafblind. A lot of the camp activities will be run by Deaf or Deafblind people. It is at a new location, with the opportunity to try some new experiences.
Rodney: It is a camp for Deafblind, by Deafblind.
Do you have a favourite memory or moment from the camp?
Kimberley: Experiencing the haptics vest one year! I was fortunate to wear this vest, and was able to enjoy the music from our disco party! It was wirelessly connected to the DJ’s soundboard and the various pads on the vest (which are located around the back, chest, waist, upper arms and wrists) would vibrate at different times and intensity, to mimic the music tactilely. It was an amazing experience and I thoroughly enjoyed dancing all night!
Jasper: It is so hard to pick just one! I will pick one from the most recent camp in 2024. I love music and dancing, but it is very rare for me to be able to dance with a friend at a club or a party. My dear friend Alex and I had a wonderful dance at the disco night at the 2024 camp. We got to admire each other’s costumes, and then have a wild energetic dance. Alex had more energy than me, and I did need a little rest after our dance. I need to get fitter so I can keep up next time! (Giggles)
Rodney: My first camp in 2014 at Philip Island. I got to meet people from different States. But my favourite activity from any camp is always the Flying Fox.
What is one thing you always look forward to at camp?
Kimberley: The thing I look forward to the most about going to camp, is the opportunity to catch up with friends from around Australia, as well as meet new people. I love creating connections with people and this is a great, relaxing way to do it!
Jasper: It means the world to me to be able to get absorbed in a really long conversation or an activity with friends, without it being cut short because of it only being an event that runs for a couple of hours or having to go home quickly because of limited support hours. We all get a few days together.
Rodney: Getting to visit different locations is great. It’s a great opportunity for the Deafblind community to break down their isolation and come together.
Want more information? Contact Camp Coordinator Alex at DBcamp@ableaustralia.org.au
Want to apply to volunteer at camp? Head to our Current Vacancies page.