Our mission and vision:
We champion the right of all deaf people to listen and speak.
First Voice advocates for world-class early intervention services that give deaf children
the listening and spoken language skills necessary to achieve mainstream education,
employment of choice and social integration within the hearing world.
Who we are and what we do
First Voice is the regional voice for member organisations that provide listening and spoken language early intervention services for children who are deaf or hearing impaired.
Our members include some of the largest, oldest and most respected centres providing services for childhood hearing loss in Australia, New Zealand and across the globe. They lead the world in listening and spoken language therapies for children who are deaf or hearing impaired.
If you have a concern about hearing loss, please contact our member centre closest to you.
Our member and affiliated organisations include:
Members
Hear and Say
Telethon Speech & Hearing
The Shepherd Centre
NextSense (formerly RIDBC/Taralye)
Can:Do 4Kids, Townsend House
International Affiliates
The Hearing House, New Zealand
Auditory Verbal UK, United Kingdom
Carel du Toit Centre, South Africa
Latest News
‘Our Voices’ First Voice Newsletter – December 2022
The latest edition of ‘Our Voices’ containing comprehensive coverage of our First Voice Power of Speech event in September this year and key information on the three most urgent issues currently facing deaf children and their families under the NDIS. And there’s also...
LOUD SHIRT DAY IS FRIDAY, 21st OCTOBER 2022
You’re invited to make noise and wear it LOUD for kids with hearing loss! Join the nationwide celebration by registering for Loud Shirt Day here Time to wear it loud You’re invited to make noise and wear it loud for kids with hearing loss. It couldn’t be easier to...
First Voice announces return of ‘Power of Speech’ event encouraging more government support for hearing loss services
First Voice is excited to announce the return of ‘Power of Speech’, an event which showcases the amazing achievements of children who are deaf and use spoken language to communicate, challenging the perceptions of what children with hearing loss can achieve. The Power...
‘Our Voices’ First Voice Newsletter – July 2022
Please enjoy reading our July edition of ‘Our Voices’ focussing on the theme of Mutual Support. In the wake of the recent Federal election, our new Chair, Dr Jim Hungerford acknowledges the extraordinary access we have in Australia to our members of parliament (of all...
‘Our Voices’ First Voice Newsletter – April 2022
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR I am pleased to present the first edition of ‘Our Voices’ for 2022. The theme is Sustainability – but with a difference – in that it focusses on non-financial factors fundamental for sustainability such as caseload size; attracting and...
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Concerned about your child’s hearing?
First Voice members:
Members of:
“Through their leadership, advocacy, research and so much more, First Voice champions the right of all deaf people to listen and speak. The staff and supporters work hard to ensure that every hearing-impaired child and their family have access to what they need to achieve the spoken language of which they are capable. It is an ambitious and noble purpose and one that all Australians should admire and support. They have made a profound impact on the lives of so many Australians and I am delighted to become their Patron.”
