Audio Description Volunteer
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Audio Description (AD) is the art of adding a verbal description to an arts or entertainment event so that a person who is blind or has low vision can better understand and enjoy the visual or on-stage elements. Vision Australia provides Audio Description for live performances at the Canberra theatre.
Vision Australia are currently looking to recruit and train new volunteer audio describers to join our existing Canberra team.
If you have a good command of the English language and are looking for a challenging volunteering role this may just be what you are looking for.
The 2 day training is designed to assist people to develop their skills of:
- Observation: Recognition of the important visual elements that need to be described;
- Verbalisation: Structuring of a succinct verbal description that can be delivered in an appropriate break in the on stage dialogue or singing;
- Presentation: Voice production and microphone skills to deliver the Audio Description as a non-intrusive radio style presentation.
What does the role entail?
- Volunteer describers are assigned and work in pairs on a nominated performance at Canberra Theatre.
- Your first viewing of the show is in the audience approx. 1 – 2 weeks before the AD date. Tickets are arranged for you.
- Then you and your co-describer attend twice more together, viewing from the sound booth. This allows you to work together to align your approach and language, as well as compile description notes of the sets.
- The people who are using the free service collect a small receiver and earpiece as they enter the theatre.
- Your Audio description is transmitted to them during the performance, describing all the non-visual information.
- To retain and develop you AD skills we recommend you describe at least three live theatre shows per year.
- Post training you will be invited into the booth to sit with experienced describers and observe.
Still interested?
Please contact Michael.Ward@visionaustralia.org for more information.