The Shepherd Centre Giving Day 

We need your support today to help give babies born with hearing loss their first words. Our aim is to raise $125,000 to help 125 babies with hearing loss receive the support they need. 

Hear:NOW – Give babies born deaf their first words

 Donate Now

Dr Naomi Malone “I was diagnosed as having a profound hearing loss at eight months of age. My parents chose The Shepherd Centre as it offered a pathway to spoken language. I began my therapy in 1974 and graduated in 1977.” Naomi has gone on to have a remarkable life and a truly accomplished career – she now holds a PhD in deaf education and is a leading advocate for disability inclusion.

Rosie Gallen  Soon after Rosie was born, her parents   became worried when they noticed she   wasn’t responding to sound like her two   older sisters. “A specialist confirmed I was profoundly   deaf. My family had no idea what to do,   but a friend knew Dr Bruce Shepherd.   Our lives changed forever once we came   across The Shepherd Centre.”

Fiona & Hamish Fairlie When Hamish was diagnosed with hearing loss, new mum Fiona didn’t have any experience with deafness. Seeing how far he has come since, Fiona is incredibly proud: “Seeing my son succeed as a deaf person in an oral world has meant so much. The Shepherd Centre is such a special place. Their vision of getting children to speak and lead an independent life is so important.”

Rosanna & Tariq Afiouni  Tariq was diagnosed with Microtia   Atresia a week after he was born, which   meant his outer ear and ear canal had   not formed fully in the womb.   Rosanna says: “We started at The Shepherd Centre in   August 2016. What I loved most was that   they offered everything my son needed. I   also got so much support from everyone”

Jett  Jett started at The Shepherd Centre in January this year. Grappling with a hearing loss diagnosis amidst the COVID-19 crisis, mum Beth is thankful that her family had The Shepherd Centre to lean on in this difficult time: “The Shepherd Centre has been our home away from year during the last year, and it’s given us hope that Jett will be able to follow in his peers’ footsteps to lead a full life.”