Story behind Auslan on Pine
About Auslan on Pine
Hi! Behind the Auslan on Pine scene is myself, Lauren, a profoundly Deaf wife and mama of two kids.
We live in the middle of nowhere, between Geelong and Ballarat. People would often say, “I have never heard of that town,” and that’s just how we like it.
I have been profoundly Deaf since birth, and Auslan was my first language before I learned to speak. Growing up, I always felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until I met my husband in 2010 that I truly began to understand the importance of access and how crucial inclusivity is for the Deaf community. Having a second family who shares my experience taught me so much about Auslan and inclusivity. My missing pieces were reunited.
I began my career teaching Auslan as a LOTE language at a primary school. Through this work, I realised there were not enough Auslan educational resources available for schools to use. That’s when my mind started overflowing with ideas for creating educational products for schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, workplaces, and families to learn and appreciate our beautiful language.
Why “Auslan on Pine”?
Growing up, my brother Ben and I always talked and still do - about having our own businesses to create wooden products. We both loved the smell of all types of wood, because our dad used to come home with the fresh scent of timber wood cuts all over his work clothes. That is where our love of wood came from.
During my childhood, I spent countless hours watching my father cut wood and my brother craft beautiful wooden products with his talent. Through observing them, I learned the art of working with wood, while also developing a strong eye for detail, design, and ideas.
How Auslan on Pine Began
Auslan on Pine officially began in 2024, with me working as the maker — designing and creating wooden Auslan resources inspired by my lived experience, my teaching background, and my love for inclusive learning.
As Auslan on Pine grew, so did the ideas.
By the end of 2025, it became clear that the business was evolving. My passion was increasingly focused on learning through play, storytelling, and creating digital resources that families and educators could access easily, alongside optional wooden components.
A New Chapter (January 2026)
From January 2026, Auslan on Pine entered a new chapter.
- Ben now leads the wood-making side, bringing his expertise, craftsmanship, and love of timber fully into the business.
- I focus on digital downloads, learning-through-play activities, stories, and resources that support Auslan learning — with wooden products offered as a tactile, optional extension.
This change allows each of us to work in our strengths, while staying true to what Auslan on Pine has always been about: language, access, play, and connection.
Auslan on Pine continues to grow as a space where Auslan is celebrated, learning is playful, and resources are created with care — for children, families, educators, and the wider community.
Love,
Auslan on Pine xo