Andrew Constance, NSW Disabilities Minister, Hears the Children!

Parents who fought to keep Hear the Children open have been vindicated with news the service will receive $277,000 in recurrent funding.

After three years battling for funds, the early intervention service have secured their longevity with annual funding from Disability Services minister Andew Constance.

The service provides free early intervention therapy that teaches hearing impaired children from six weeks to six years old to listen and speak.
The service’s driving force, co-president Yvonne Keane, said the funding was a huge relief for the mothers who had tirelessly campaigned for the service.
‘‘This funding is the culmination of 24 months of constant negotiation and discussion with the government, often with my children in tow, and now places this extraordinary service on the sure footing it deserves,’’ Mr Keane said.

Hear the Children has operated for over 38 years with no significant government funding.

The service was faced with closure in 2009 before a group of mothers, led by Mrs Keane, took over the service and continued it as a community run business model.

‘‘I have fallen completely in love with The Hills community who have carried the service by whole heartedly supporting our fundraising events,’’ Mrs Keane said.

‘‘Throughout this time I have seen many children come to spoken language —if not for the ongoing support we have received from our generous community these children may not otherwise have had the opportunity to speak.’’

Mr Constance, who has visited the centre many times, said he had seen the work they do first-hand.

‘‘Hear the Children do wonderful work in providing early intervention services for hearing impaired children, and I look forward to seeing this continue long into the future,’’ Mr Constance said.

‘‘Early intervention is absolutely critical, because we know that serious problems can arise later in life when it comes to a child’s ability to interact with people.’’

‘‘This recurrent funding will help strengthen the broader service system’s capacity to support children with a hearing impairment,’’ he said.
Mrs Keane offered a heartfelt thanks to Mr Constance, the Hills News, and the community.

‘‘Because of your efforts and support the hearing impaired children who are currently enrolled in Hear the Children, and importantly those who are yet to be born who will benefit from this service, will continue to receive the miraculous gift of speech,’’ Mrs Keane said.

‘‘You have changed the world — thank you.’

We want to say a heartfelt “thank you” to you for your generosity towards, and support of, Hear the Children. Our recent Trivia Night was a fantastic success, raising over $20,000 in much needed funds for the Centre. Our success in giving hearing impaired babies and children the life-changing gift of speech is thanks to your support, and also the support of our wonderful community.

Last week we received a visit from Andrew Constance, the NSW Minister for Disabilities, along with Ray Williams (Member for Hawkesbury) and Dominic Perrottet (Member for Castle Hill), who provided us with a cheque for $50,000, which is an extraordinary, and much-appreciated, revenue boost for the Centre. With the Service growing rapidly, and the cost of intervention per child sitting at around $15,000 per year, we need to raise $450,000 this financial year to ensure that we are able to continue to provide all hearing-impaired children who come to us with this, oftentimes, miraculous therapy.

What better way to say “thankyou” than for it to come directly from the mouth of one of the children that your support, over the years, has helped. Richard is 6 and started at Hear the Children as a tiny baby. He loves Dinosaurs and going to school. This year he left Hear the Children, where he is greatly missed, and started Kindergarten at St Matthews, with language skills and speech just as proficient as any of the hearing children in his class. Because of your support, Richard’s hearing impairment (just like all of the other children enrolled in the Service) will not be a handicap to him in his life.

To see Richard’s message to you, click above. We hope you enjoy what he has to say!