In celebration of the National Week of Deaf People, we’re honoured to feature long-time StoryBox Hub supporter Emma Watkins and her creative partner Elvin Melvin. Together, they share their passion for Auslan, inclusive storytelling, and the joy of bringing visual language to life through music, movement, and media.

In this special guest blog, Emma and Elvin reflect on the importance of Auslan in early learning, the power of accessible stories, and their unique creative partnership.

Emma, your journey with Auslan began in childhood and has grown into a powerful platform for advocacy and education. How has your personal connection to the Deaf community shaped your creative work with Emma Memma, and why do you believe visual storytelling is so vital for young audiences? 

Emma: When I was in primary school, my best friend had two Deaf brothers. We would often drop her home, and that’s where I first met them as they were attending a Deaf school. That was my first exposure to sign language, and I’ve been curious ever since. Over the years, I went to community Auslan classes, socialised with Deaf friends, and gradually learnt more about Deaf culture, especially within Australia. Having those friendships really opened my eyes to how much of our media isn’t visually accessible, even though the technology exists to make it so.

After 12 years performing with The Wiggles, teaching dance, studying film editing, and working with children, I began my PhD research to explore how we could better integrate sign language, dance, and music into children’s screen media. That journey became Emma Memma—a place where all these art forms and languages intersect.

Elvin, your performances alongside Emma brings Auslan to life in such joyful and expressive ways. Can you share what it means to you to be part of a project that celebrates Deaf culture and language so prominently in children’s media? 

Elvin: As a Deaf person from birth, I understand how challenging it can be to grow up in a hearing world, especially when it comes to communication. As a child, I often felt isolated, and at times it was scary to interact with other kids.

That’s why being part of Emma Memma is so important to me. Children—both hearing and Deaf—get to see Auslan integrated into everything we do. Kids learn sign language so quickly, often faster than adults, and that means when they grow up, they can communicate naturally with Deaf classmates or people they meet in the community. That’s what makes this project so special—it builds bridges.

National Week of Deaf People is a celebration of language, culture, and community. What does this week mean to each of you personally, and how do you hope it inspires broader awareness and inclusion across Australia?  

Elvin: The Deaf community is very diverse. People connect with Deaf culture in many different ways—whether they identify as Deaf with a capital ‘D’, deaf with a lowercase ‘d’, Hard-of-hearing, or use cochlear implants or hearing aids. Some use Auslan as their primary language, others don’t. But the common thread is that we can do anything hearing people can do—the only difference is that we communicate visually.

National Week of Deaf People is about celebrating that culture, language, and diversity. It’s also a chance to show the wider community that given the opportunity, Deaf people can shine in every field.

StoryBox Hub is proud to feature a growing collection of Auslan stories (88 and counting!). Why do you think it’s important for children - both Deaf and hearing - to have access to stories in Auslan, and how can platforms like ours help foster a more inclusive storytelling landscape? 

Elvin: Auslan is so visual—it’s like watching a movie. Children can enjoy the story with their eyes and imagination, and it becomes accessible to everyone. Stories in Auslan let children experience emotions and expressions in a different way, and that’s powerful.

Emma: Non-verbal communication—facial expressions, gestures, body movement—already tells us so much, and it’s something everyone uses, even with spoken language. Platforms like StoryBox Hub can be a home for all these forms of communication. That makes visual storytelling appealing to every child, especially those who prefer learning visually.

Emma, you’ve spoken about empowering the next generation through movement, creativity, and inclusiveness. How do you see Auslan fitting into early childhood education, and what role do you think it can play in building empathy and connection from a young age? 

Emma: Auslan, like all sign languages, has its own grammar, syntax, and structure—it’s a complete language. Instead of children learning arbitrary gestures, what better opportunity than to learn Auslan, the natural language of Australia’s Deaf community?

Before children speak—if they speak at all—they already use visual communication: pointing, facial expressions, body movement. Auslan builds naturally on those skills. And when hearing children learn Auslan, they gain the ability to connect directly with Deaf children, to share stories without translation, and to experience the world from another perspective. That builds empathy from a young age.

Your partnership is so special - Elvin and Emma, can you tell us a bit about your creative relationship and how you collaborate to bring Auslan, music, and movement together in such a magical way? 

Elvin:  We share the same vibe and passion for dance, drama, and sign language. That’s the foundation of our collaboration. And importantly, we have a team of Deaf consultants and creatives who bring even more perspectives to Emma Memma.

Emma: Dance, movement, and sign language brought us together. When I first met Elvin, I was nervous because my Auslan skills were basic, but we both quickly realised we could connect through dance. Over the past six years, Elvin has taught me so much—how creative Auslan can be, how individual expression works, and how much he has to share with the world. Together, we want to show children the beauty of friendship, dance, and community through Emma Memma and Elvin Melvin.

Find our Auslan Story Time series here.