The Canberra Shepherd Centre was opened in 2001 in the suburb of Hughes in the Hughes Primary School.
June 2007 saw a move to larger premises in the old Rivett pre school, with enhanced facilities and more space.
The Centre has two therapists on staff with backgrounds in Audiology and Speech Pathology, an Audiologist and a Family Counsellor.
We have wonderful support from community groups who help with everything from volunteering at playgroup, cleaning windows to collecting egg cartons for craft projects.
Our Vision
To enable children who are deaf and hearing-impaired to develop spoken language, so they may fully participate in the hearing world, and in so doing reach their full potential.
Our Mission
To assist children who are deaf and hearing-impaired achieve spoken communication within the family, the educational setting and within the wider community, by involving parents and the community in the education and development of the child.
To develop the skills of the parents and carers, by providing an intensive infant and preschool program, so that children may acquire speech and language, principally using their residual hearing with the use of appropriate listening devices (eg. hearing aids or cochlear implants).
To develop language, listening, speech and social skills, to facilitate integration of the child with their hearing peers at the earliest possible opportunity, and ensure integration continues throughout life.
Our Philosophy
To assist children who are deaf or hearing-impaired use their residual hearing to learn the skills they need to acquire speech and language, and to enable them to live comfortably in the wider community. These skills will enable the adult who is deaf or hearing impaired to have choices in lifestyle, occupation and mode of communication.
Intensive early intervention, focusing on listening and speaking, is designed to meet this aim.
The Shepherd Centre provides services which enable families to gain the knowledge, understanding and confidence needed as the primary decision-makers, caregivers and teachers of their own children.
Assistance and knowledge will be offered, so that parents may make appropriate decisions and choices about amplification and hearing devices for their children.
The Shepherd Centre, mindful of the special needs of the families of children who are deaf and hearing-impaired, offers guidance and support, both on an individual and family basis, as well as in group settings.
The Shepherd Centre program, structured around typical child development sequences, is based on family involvement and parent and professional teamwork.
For further information, and ways you can help... Contact:
The Canberra Shepherd Centre
Nealie Place
Rivett ACT 2611
PO Box 2086
Woden ACT 2606
Tel: 6288 5920
Fax: 02 6288 5940
