Being born deaf has never stopped Drisana Levitzke-Gray from being heard.

The 21-year-old, from Perth, has pushed for the rights of deaf children around the world to learn Auslan, the sign language used by the Australian deaf community.

Drisana Levitzke-Gray Credit:Matt Bedford

On Sunday, she received a national honour for her efforts in promoting diversity and acceptance of deaf people by being named Young Australian of the Year for 2015. She joins three other women in a sweep of the Australian of the Year awards.

"We need the support of the Australian government to ensure that deaf children and their families have access to Auslan," she said in Canberra upon winning the award.