As a child growing up in Sydney, Emma Watkins was always enthralled by sign language.
Her best friend had two brothers, both of whom were deaf, and Watkins wanted to know what they said to each other and how to communicate with them.
"I think I was just fascinated," she said.
"I'd seen them converse with each other … and then I'd want to know what they were talking about.
"I learned some signs from their sister and then subsequently from them. And really, I just wished that I had learnt more from them at the time, but they definitely sparked my interest."
Watkins studied Australian sign language, or Auslan, after that and is currently completing a PhD in Auslan communication and dance.
What Watkins is most passionate about is using Auslan in song and dance form to entertain and educate all children regardless of ability.
Exposing The Wiggles to a new audience
Watkins was a member of children's musical supergroup The Wiggles for 10 years and during this time she started including sign language in their songs and performances.
The Wiggles have used interpreters on the side of the stage during performances before or added Auslan over recordings, but Watkins's favourite project with the band was in 2016 when they worked collaboratively with Deaf Connect in NSW.
"They helped us make proper authentic translations of maybe 20 Wiggles songs … and they taught us the translations," she said.
"And then we worked with children who were either deaf or children of Deaf parents … and then we filmed them doing all the songs, and we played them on screens in the show.
"It's probably my most favourite project as part of The Wiggles."
A new passion project
Since leaving The Wiggles, Watkins has begun production of her own children's entertainment show — Emma Memma: Sing. Dance. Sign.
The series is in development and scheduled for filming in 2023. At this stage, Watkins has released a number of short videos on her Emma Memma YouTube channel, which show Auslan incorporated into dance and song.
Emma Memma is a character in the show played by Watkins, and she and her friends overcome challenges using a combination of singing, dancing, and signing.
Watkins has engaged deaf consultants on the Emma Memma set and the videos are co-delivered by deaf ballet dancer Elvin Lam, who plays Elvin Melvin on the show.
"To be appropriate, we want to be able to have that consultation from people that are within the Deaf community and are using that language natively," she said.
Lam is a crucial part of the show, bringing experience in dance and sign together onto the set.
"So because I have experience in ballet and Auslan, I generally use movements alongside Emma's dialogue," he said.
"However, we want to make the show accessible to everyone, so we take turns … For example, when we have any announcements in the show, I use Auslan, Emma speaks and we then dance together."
Watkins said Emma Memma would be focused on a fully accessible viewing experience.
"We just start with the sign. We're like, 'what's an important sign for a child?' And then we decide, 'what word is going to suit that sign?'" she explained.
"I feel like the sign language drives the dance … like the sign language is first …
"A lot of children use gesture before talking … it makes sense. I'm kind of confused why we haven't done it before."
The importance of sign language in media
Many television shows and recorded performances have closed captioning options to make the content accessible, but writing the translation doesn't account for deaf fatigue, where the person becomes exhausted by always reading the dialogue.
Olivia Beasley is a Deaf woman and the engagement manager at Expression Australia, a not-for-profit organisation created by the Deaf community to assist people in their everyday lives.
Ms Beasley said having an Auslan interpreter translating during a news broadcast or other media was more inclusive than captions.
"Including Auslan gives people the opportunity to be immersed in the media in their first language," she said.
"For many Auslan users, English is their second language and messages in the media are often interpreted incorrectly."
Inclusion for good and bad news
Stephen Nicholson is a Deaf interpreter and former Auslan teacher who is also with Expression Australia.
Mr Nicholson, who is also Deaf, explained that interpreters were normally booked to translate for a crisis and not regular news, which was not inclusive for the community.
"Right now, usually Auslan interpreters are included for media if there is a crisis flooding, fire," he said.
"It is important to include all information – positive or negative — in all media releases."
Mr Nicholson said at one point an interpreter was booked for a COVID-19 announcement but then asked to leave before the following AFL announcement.
"The Deaf community assumed the interpreter had to leave for other jobs and were annoyed at the interpreters for not being there to interpret the information about the AFL bid," he explained.
Ms Beasley said there was a lack of Deaf representation in the media and an inclusion of the community would help address the issue.
"I've noticed the opportunities to be in media are often dropped due to too much effort in arranging Auslan interpreters, Deaf consultants or ensuring the scene is accessible for viewers. This includes entertainment," she said.
'Deaf people can do anything'
According to Lam, this is what makes Emma Memma so progressive.
"Emma Memma will be the first show with Auslan, singing and dancing in Australia — maybe in the world," he said.
"In Australia, not all people are aware of Deaf individuals and therefore they can't use Auslan to communicate with us."
Lam said he sometimes felt like Deaf people were "living in two different worlds", and hearing people did not always compensate for the communication barriers.
He hoped Emma Memma could help make sign language become more normalised in the media.
"Hopefully people will become more aware of Deaf people and understand that they are part of life and feel encouraged to learn more Auslan," Lam said.
"I used to feel disappointed that people thought Deaf people couldn't sing and dance.
"I used to be banned from going to ballet class myself. So that's why I'm here today with Emma Memma and I want to show people that Deaf people can sign and dance, even ballet.
"If I am a role model for Deaf children, I want them to see that Deaf people can do anything.
"I hope that other hearing children will then welcome their Deaf classmates into their lives," he said.
