Drisana Levitzke-Gray is the recipient of the 2015 Young Australian of the Year Award and WA Young Australian of the Year Award, in recognition of her passion and dedication in advocating for the human rights of deaf people. She raises awareness about Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and the right of deaf children in Australia to access Auslan from birth. 

 

Drisana is the embodiment of the concept of ‘Deaf gain’, not ‘hearing loss’, inspiring the Deaf community, and encouraging the wider community to accept diversity. Drisana was the first Deaf Auslan user to fulfil her civic duty as a juror, deliver a TEDx Talk in Auslan and consistently promotes a positive image of deafness, which states loudly and proudly: “It’s OK to be deaf”. She is married to her handsome co-advocate Braam Jordaan.