Children who are deaf or hard of hearing can access specialist early intervention services provided by some state governments or NDIS provider organisations specialising in early intervention services for children with hearing loss and their families.
The Australian Government funds the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which offers support to children with hearing loss younger than 9 years old and their families.
At your first appointment with Hearing Australia, the audiologist will discuss the NDIS with you and inform you about the NDIS early childhood partner in your local area. Your NDIS early childhood partner will support you in applying for the NDIS on your child’s behalf. Your child with permanent hearing loss can access the supports they need earlier through the NDIS Pathway Hearing Stream.
The information provided in the table below lists the organisations who provide specialist early intervention services for children with hearing loss and their families.
| NSW GOVERNMENT | |
| Contact details | Disability, Learning and Support Level 11, 105 Phillip Street, Parramatta NSW 2150 Phone: 02 7814 3879 Email Disability.Support@det.nsw.edu.au |
| NEXTSENSE | |
| Contact details | NextSense Early Intervention - hearing and/or vision 2 Gymnasium Road Macquarie University Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Phone: 1300 581 391 Website: Click here. |
| NDIS Provider Panel | Yes |
| Services provided | Centre-based Home visits throughout Sydney Individual therapy sessions Early learning groups Preschool support NextSense Preschool (Spoken Language program, Sign Bilingual program, Blind & Low Vision program) NexSense School (Sign Bilingual program K-6, Spoken Language program K-6, Blind & Deafblind program) |
| Communication options | Auditory-verbal Auditory-oral Auslan Alternative communication |
| Cost to family | No additional fees |
| Location of services | Alstonville Office 3, Level 1, Alstonville Plaza 91-93 Main Street Alstonville NSW 2477 Phone: 1300 581 391 Broadmeadow Konara, Suite 2, Level 3 15 Lambton Road Broadmeadow NSW 2292 Phone: 1300 581 391 Gladesville Building 39, Old Gladesville Hospital Digby Street Gladesville NSW 2111 Phone: 1300 581 391 Gosford Ground Floor, Suite 3 40 Mann Street Gosford NSW 2250 Phone: 1300 581 391 Liverpool 106 Moore St Liverpool NSW 2170 Phone: 1300 581 391 Macquarie Park Australian Hearing Hub 16 University Avenue Macquarie University Macquarie Park NSW 2109 Phone: 1300 581 391 Macquarie Park 2 Gymnasium Road Macquarie Park NSW 2113 Phone: 1300 581 391 Port Macquarie 35 Hollingworth Street Port Macquarie NSW 2444 Phone: 1300 581 391 Rouse Hill Level 1, Vinegar Hill Memorial Library & Community Centre 29 Main St Rouse Hill NSW 2155 Phone: 1300 581 391 Waverley LE King Building, War Memorial Hospital 125 Birrell Street Waverley NSW 2024 Phone: 1300 581 391 Werrington Level 2, Werrington Corporate Park 14 Great Western Highway Werrington NSW 2747 Phone: 1300 581 391 Wollongong Crown Mall Arcade, Shops 8&9 110-114 Crown Street Wollongong NSW 2500 Phone: 1300 581 391 Connected Services (Australia-wide) Phone: 1300 581 391 Website: Click here. |
| THE SHEPHERD CENTRE (TSC) | |
| Contact details | 146 Burren Street Newtown NSW 2042 Phone: 1800 020 030 Website: Click here |
| NDIS Provider Panel | Yes |
| Services provided | Home-based or centre-based Early intervention and school age services Cochlear implant medical service – supporting children and young people before, during and after surgery Integrated Preschools for children with hearing loss (alongside children with no hearing loss) available at Liverpool and Wollongong Individual weekly, fortnightly or monthly therapy sessions Speech, language and social skills development programs for young children, primary and secondary school students Weekly children’s playgroup Individual Family Plan or Individual Education Plan Parent support group; parent education sessions School readiness program Listening, speech and language assessments Individual family/sibling social support sessions |
| Communication options | Auditory-verbal |
| Cost to family | No |
| Location of services | Newtown The Shepherd Centre 146 Burren Street Newtown NSW 2042 Phone: 02 9370 4400 North Ryde The Shepherd Centre at the Australian Hearing Hub Ground Floor, 16 University Avenue Macquarie University NSW 2019 Phone: 02 8297 4700 Liverpool The Annette Shepherd Centre and The Shepherd Centre Preschool 43 Graham Ave Casula NSW 2170 Phone: 02 9370 4404 Wollongong The Wollongong Shepherd Centre and The Shepherd Centre Preschool 48 Dempster Street West Wollongong NSW 2500 Phone: 02 9370 4403 |
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Disclaimer: The information contained on this website is not intended as a substitute for independent professional advice.
