Lisa Mills | Teaching her ‘home’ language, Auslan

By increasing the number of people that learn sign language, Lisa is helping make society more inclusive and making a difference in the deaf community, something that she is proud of.

Lisa sat down with the QUT Alumni Team to share insights from her career journey, and from the deaf and hard of hearing community.

You began your career as a Theatre Director and Actor and worked as a consultant for Arts Council England. Had you always wanted to pursue a career in the performing arts and what was your favourite role?

As a child, I always dreamed of becoming an actress and experiencing life through different characters. I loved being creative and expressive because it gave me the freedom I craved. Being deaf meant I often felt unheard and trapped, and I always had to adapt to different hearing environments, which was exhausting. So, a career in the performing arts appealed to me because it meant freedom, creativity, and a space where I could be seen and heard, and where I could truly shine.

It's difficult to pick just one favourite role because each character has taught me something new about myself and the world around me. However, if I had to choose, playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at QUT was particularly special to me. It was my first major role as an actress, and I felt a deep connection to the character's passion and vulnerability. The experience taught me a lot about the power of love and the importance of taking risks, both on stage and in life. In fact, I loved the character so much that I even named my son Romeo!

What prompted your career change to establish Lisa Mills Online and become a sign language teacher?

After spending 10 years in the UK working in professional theatre, I decided to return home to Australia. It was a difficult decision, as it meant leaving behind a thriving career in theatre. However, I knew that starting a family in the UK without the support of my own family would be challenging, so I made the decision to come back to Australia and pursue a career in teaching.

While I enjoyed teaching, it was frustrating as a deaf teacher to constantly adapt to hearing environments. It was tiring and isolating, and I struggled to keep up with staff meetings, lunch time breaks and social interactions. I knew I needed something on the side to boost my self-esteem and satisfy my need for creativity and connection, so I started offering sign language classes outside of school hours. It was a huge success, and I had a blast teaching it.

During this time, I landed a dream job as a teacher of the deaf in Brisbane. I worked with a deaf student in a hospital and later in a high-security prison, which was an amazing experience. When I fell pregnant, the school administration wanted me to stay on because of the positive influence I was having on the deaf student. They set up online distance teaching for me, and it was an incredible experience.

After having my baby and moving home, I had to pause my sign language classes. But I didn't want to stop teaching sign language, as it was so fulfilling for me outside of my school teaching career. That's when I decided to go online, like I did for my teacher of the deaf role. And I haven't looked back since! It's been an incredible and unintentional journey, and I feel like this is what I was meant to do. My wonderful performing arts career was all training and preparation for this.

Auslan was first recorded in the 2001 Australian Census, how has its use evolved/changed in the past 20 years?

In the past 20 years, the use of Auslan has evolved significantly, with technology playing a major role in changing the way signs are used. One noticeable change for me is that signs are now often signed higher, at chest height, rather than at waist height, which was more common in the past. This change is believed to be influenced by our increasing use of technology. In addition, there has been a shift towards more flexibility in signing dialects, with people now exposed to more regional signs and dialects due to social media and increased travel. This has led to a greater acceptance and adoption of different dialects in the Auslan community. Overall, these changes have helped to promote a more inclusive and diverse approach to Auslan.

How have improvements in technology impacted the lives of people who are deaf or hard of hearing?

There have been both positive and negative impacts of technology on the lives of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. One notable improvement is the development of services such as Convo, which offers Australia's first dedicated on-demand Video Interpreting Service (VIS) connecting Auslan users with qualified Auslan interpreters through video calls on a desktop or phone. This service has been life-changing for many sign language users.

In addition, open and closed captions are becoming more prevalent in movies and social media, providing much-needed accessibility. However, many Australian cinemas have yet to adopt open captions, which prevents deaf and hard of hearing individuals from fully accessing and enjoying movies in theatres. It's high time they started doing so, especially considering that at least 1 in 6 people have a hearing loss.

Finally, while there are advancements in hearing assistance technology, I'd still like to see waterproof hearing aids designed. I can't believe that with all the technological advancements, this still hasn't been created yet. Hopefully, someone at QUT will be inspired to take on this worthy challenge one day!

In your opinion, what work still needs to be done around deaf awareness, and increasing and incorporating the use of sign language and nonverbal communication techniques into the hearing world?

In my opinion, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to increase awareness of deafness and incorporate sign language and nonverbal communication techniques into the hearing world. One key area that could benefit from more attention is the need for service-based businesses and companies to mandate deaf awareness training for their staff. This would help to reduce communication barriers and make it easier for deaf and hard of hearing people to access the services they need.

Additionally, there are still many misunderstandings and misconceptions about deaf and hard of hearing people, and it would be helpful to educate the wider public on the diversity of communication needs among this community. It would also be beneficial if more people had basic sign language skills, such as greeting signs and fingerspelling, as this would go a long way towards making communication more inclusive and accessible.

What advice would you give people who are considering learning sign language?

Many people believe that to learn sign language, an accredited course is a must. However, this is not entirely true. It is important to start your learning journey in whatever way that is convenient for you, regardless of your stage in life. It's never too late to start learning Auslan. The deaf and hard of hearing community needs individuals who know basic deaf awareness and sign language, even if it's just the fundamentals. Starting small can make a significant difference and can inspire others around you to learn as well.

Taking the first step is crucial, as waiting until the right time or place may deter you from starting altogether. You can gradually build your skills and knowledge. Starting with casual classes or community courses is a great way to kick off your learning journey.

Sign language is not difficult to learn particularly when learning from an exceptional teacher. It is essential to learn from a deaf teacher who has lived and breathed the language and culture of Auslan. Learning Auslan can be fun and easy, particularly the way I teach it.

In your experience, what are some of the common misconceptions of people that are deaf or hard of hearing?

One is the idea that deaf people are less intelligent than hearing people, which is completely untrue. When given accessible and inclusive environments, we are just as capable as anyone else.

Another misconception is that hearing technology can fully restore our hearing, but in reality, we still rely on visual communication methods to fully understand.

Another misconception is that because I can speak, I can communicate just like hearing people, which is not always the case. This can be exhausting as people may not make enough effort to communicate with me. On the other hand, people may assume that my husband, also deaf and doesn't use hearing technology or speech, can't communicate, and they may try to dumb down their communication for him or just look at me instead of him for communication.

inally, there's the misconception that all deaf people are expert lip readers. In reality, even the best lip readers can only achieve around 30% accuracy, so it's not a reliable communication method. It would be great to see more awareness and understanding around these issues in the hearing world.

How can individuals practice inclusion in conversation with people that are deaf, or hard of hearing?

Individuals can practice inclusion in conversation with people who are deaf or hard of hearing by making an effort to learn deaf awareness and basic sign language skills. This way, they can communicate effectively and make the person feel included and valued. It's important to recognize that excluding deaf or hard of hearing people from conversations can have negative impacts on their self-esteem, morale, and mental health, just like it would for anyone else. Therefore, individuals should take the initiative to make provisions for accessibility and inclusion, rather than leaving it up to the deaf person to adapt to the hearing world. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming society for everyone.

Professionally speaking, what would you say your greatest achievement is, what are you most proud of?

It's difficult to pinpoint just one greatest achievement, as every milestone I've reached has played a vital role in getting me to where I am today. However, if I had to choose, I would say that founding Lisa Mills Online, an online school with over 50,000 students learning sign language, is something that I'm particularly proud of. I believe that learning sign language is crucial for creating a more inclusive society, and through LMO, I've been able to help many students make a difference in the deaf community. For me, the key to achieving success is to take each step on the ladder as it comes, and to keep learning and evolving along the way.

What is one skill you couldn't live without and why?>

Learning Auslan, Australian Sign Language, is a skill I simply couldn't live without. Discovering this language in my late teens was a pivotal moment that changed my life forever. It felt like I had finally found my home language. As a child, I used to mimic and mirror people's expressions and body language, as if that was the language I was meant to use. Unfortunately, hearing authorities often discourage the use of sign language for deaf children, believing it may hinder their ability to connect with the hearing world. But the reality is that we lose our true identity when we try to adapt to hearing ways, which is both exhausting and unsustainable. Auslan has given me a newfound sense of self and a language I can communicate in with ease and immense joy. I highly encourage parents of deaf and hard of hearing children to embrace sign language to deepen their connection with themselves and the world around them.

Is there anything else you would like other alumni to know about creating inclusive and positive environments in their work places and communities?

Absolutely! Creating inclusive and positive environments in our workplaces and communities is essential for everyone to feel valued, heard, and respected. It starts with education and awareness about different cultures, backgrounds, and abilities. We need to be open-minded and willing to learn from each other, recognising and celebrating our differences, rather than seeing them as a source of division.

In addition, it's important to actively listen to the needs and perspectives of all individuals, including those with disabilities, to ensure that their voices are heard and their experiences are taken into consideration. This means making accommodations and providing accessible resources, such as captioning and sign language interpretation, and implementing policies and practices that promote equity and diversity.

It's also crucial to lead by example and model positive behavior in our interactions with others. This includes showing empathy, kindness, and respect, and creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable and safe to express themselves.

Overall, creating inclusive and positive environments requires ongoing effort and commitment, but the benefits are immense for individuals and the community as a whole. Let's work together to make our workplaces and communities a place where everyone can thrive and feel included.

Do you have a question for Lisa? Connect on LinkedIn or via her website.