Power of Speech 2026: Mia and Halle to share their story at Parliament House

Power of Speech 2026 is coming to Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday, 13 October, and this year sisters Mia and Halle will proudly represent The Shepherd Centre as they share their story with Members of Parliament, community leaders and supporters.

What is Power of Speech?

Power of Speech is an annual event that celebrates the incredible achievements of children with cochlear implants who have learnt to listen and speak with the support of First Voice member centres.

Since 2014, Power of Speech has given children the opportunity to stand proudly at Parliament House and share their stories in their own words. It is a powerful way to show what is possible when families have access to expert early intervention, the right technology and family support.

It is a day to celebrate children’s voices and achievements, inspire the community, and highlight the importance of ensuring every child with hearing loss has the chance to reach their full potential.

The Shepherd Centre is proud to be a First Voice member centre and to organise Power of Speech, with our CEO, Dr Aleisha Davis, serving as Co-Chair of First Voice. First Voice is the peak body representing organisations that deliver listening and spoken language services for children with hearing loss, and its member centres support almost 2,000 children across Australia and New Zealand.

Meet Mia and Halle

Sisters Mia, 13, and Halle, 12, have both grown up with hearing loss and began their early intervention journey at The Shepherd Centre’s Wollongong centre when they were babies. Today, they each wear two cochlear implants, which they affectionately call their “buds”.

“We call them buds ’cause they’re our buddies,” Mia says.

Hearing loss is only one part of who they are. Mia and Halle love school, books, dancing and spending time with their friends, and they attend dance classes several times a week alongside friends they have known since they were two.

For their mum, Tara, and dad, Drew, the journey began when Mia did not pass her newborn hearing screen. A year later, Halle received the same result. With support from The Shepherd Centre, the girls learnt to listen and speak through play-based therapy, while Tara was supported to navigate each new decision along the way. When asked to describe The Shepherd Centre’s role in where the girls are today, Tara’s answer is simple: “Crucial.”

Now, the sisters are ready to take the Power of Speech stage together.

“It’s an honour to share our story to everyone out there,” Mia says. “I’m just so proud of both of us, of how far we’ve come in our lives with this.”

The message Mia hopes people will take away is grounded in the bond she shares with her sister: “Things can be hard and you can get through it with one person by your side.”

A day of inspiring voices

Mia and Halle will be joined by fellow young cochlear implant recipients from First Voice member centres across Australia and New Zealand, including NextSense (NSW), Can:Do 4Kids (SA), Hear and Say (QLD), TSH (WA) and The Hearing House (NZ).

This year’s event will be hosted by MC Milly Collins, a 13-year-old from Hobart with two cochlear implants who was a Power of Speech representative for The Shepherd Centre in 2024. Guests will also hear from The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the NDIS; Melissa McIntosh MP, Shadow Minister for the NDIS; Dig Howitt, CEO and President of Cochlear Ltd; and David Brady, Director of Community Engagement at The Shepherd Centre.

We are grateful to Cochlear for their generous support in making Power of Speech 2026 possible.

Getting LOUD for Loud Shirt Day

Mia and Halle will also be representing The Shepherd Centre as our 2026 Loud Shirt Day Ambassadors, helping us celebrate children with hearing loss through Australia’s boldest, brightest charity fundraiser.

To find out more, visit: tsc.org.au/loud2026