We were delighted to welcome guests to our Hobart centre on Thursday, 27 August, to celebrate the official naming of the Carol Brown Playground and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque, honouring Senator the Hon Carol Brown’s more than 20 years of advocacy for children with hearing loss and their families in Tasmania.
The playground was named in recognition of Senator Brown’s longstanding commitment to Tasmanian children with hearing loss, and her support in helping establish The Shepherd Centre’s permanent presence in the state.
We were proud to welcome Senator Brown, along with the Hon Julie Collins MP, Ella Haddad MP, the Hon Luke Edmunds MLC and Meg Brown MP, as well as children, families, staff and community members who joined us for the occasion.
A lasting tribute
Dr Aleisha Davis, CEO of The Shepherd Centre, said the recognition reflected the depth of Senator Brown’s contribution to the sector.
“Senator Brown has been a passionate and steadfast advocate for deaf children and their families in Tasmania for more than two decades. This recognition is a lasting acknowledgement of the compassion, conviction and leadership Senator Brown has brought throughout her public life.”
Senator Brown said she was honoured to have her advocacy recognised.
“I will always stand up for the most vulnerable people in our community and fight for the services and support that can make a real difference in their lives,” Senator Brown said.
“I have seen firsthand the difference The Shepherd Centre makes for children and families, and I am proud Tasmanian families can now access that specialist support closer to home.”
Supporting a growing community
The event also marked a moment to reflect on the growing need for early intervention services across Tasmania. Since opening our Hobart centre in 2022, the number of children and families we support statewide has grown from 40 to 67, an increase of more than two-thirds, with 45 accessing services through Hobart and 22 through Launceston.
Tasmania also has a unique 50/50 split between children in early intervention and school-aged support, reflecting the importance of specialised care at every stage of a child’s development.
We continue to work closely with Hearing Australia, the Tasmanian Health Service and Teachers of the Deaf to ensure every child receives coordinated, high-quality support.
View more photos from the day in our gallery here: https://theshepherdcentre.pixieset.com/officialunveilingofthecarolbrownplayground/
Thank you to Senator Brown and the wider Tasmanian community for celebrating this milestone with us.
