New South Wales will be the first state to bring to the fore a language which improves the daily lives of more than 30,000 Australians, with a push to extend it nationally.

Australian Sign Language, or Auslan, will be put forward as an elective in K-10 schools in an effort to address a shortage of interpreters and those fluent in sign language.

Press PLAY to hear more about the push for sign language

WA’s most seen Auslan interpreter Fiona Parry told Millsy and Karl on 6PR Breakfast it was a fantastic idea.

“It’s just like any other language, and even more critical for those who rely on it,” Ms Parry said.

“It’s a very visual language – body language comes into it too – and I think it would just be a great things to teach kids.”