The Shepherd Centre

What The Shepherd Centre does

The Shepherd Centre is an Australian non-profit organisation founded in 1970 by Dr Bruce Shepherd AM and Annette Shepherd, specialising in early intervention and ongoing therapy for children with hearing loss from birth through to school age and adolescence. The organisation delivers a transdisciplinary, family-centred model combining paediatric audiology, listening and spoken language therapy, child and family counselling, and inclusive preschool programs, all under an integrated clinical framework. It operates nine physical centres across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania, supplemented by an Online Telehealth System built on the Lifesize platform that delivers the same programs remotely to rural and remote families.

The technical backbone includes a proprietary Functional Listening Index – Paediatric (FLI-P®), a registered assessment tool developed in partnership with HEARing CRC and Cochlear to track listening development in children from birth to six years, and an internal Child Development Information System (CDIS) that underpins clinical practice and outcomes measurement. The HearHub digital platform, launched in 2022, extends the organisation's clinical IP into global professional development for hearing healthcare professionals. The Shepherd Centre reports 85%+ of children enter school with language skills equivalent to or better than their hearing peers and over 90% of graduates continue into mainstream education.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: NDIS government funding as a registered service provider, philanthropic donations and fundraising (over 50% of funding), government and non-government grants, and a small optional monthly membership fee. Referrals originate from GPs, the SWISH newborn hearing screening program, hospitals and self-referrals. The organisation employs 83 staff including six preschool staff and supports over 900 families annually, with $20.4M committed by the NSW Government over four years (through 2026/27) for cochlear implant support as one anchor contract.

Name

The Shepherd Centre

Legal name

The Shepherd Centre

Website

https://shepherdcentre.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Shepherd Centre is an Australian non-profit founded in 1970 that provides early intervention, therapy and inclusive preschool programs for children with hearing loss and their families across nine centres and online telehealth in Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Hearing Loss Early Intervention Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Child and Youth Services (624110), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention) (EDACAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs (EDAKAAAE), Hearing Impairment & Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Inclusive Childcare (HSAAAIAJ), Family Literacy & Early Language Development Programs (EDACALAE)

Keywords

• Pediatric hearing loss
• Early intervention services
• Listening and spoken language therapy
• Cochlear implant support
• Audiology rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Newton Boyd

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. NDIS Government Funding: The Shepherd Centre is a registered NDIS service provider. Government funding through NDIS covers some service costs, with families not out of pocket if they have an approved NDIS plan.
2. Donations and Philanthropy: Over 50% of funding comes from generous financial supporters including trusts, foundations, corporations and community donors. The organisation maintains and strengthens fundraising efforts.
3. Grants: Vital work funded by acquisition of grants from government and non-government sources, enabling research and program expansion.
4. Optional Monthly Membership Fee: Small optional monthly membership fee charged to families, not covered by private health fund or NDIS.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Shepherd Centre delivers family-centered early intervention and listening/spoken language therapy programs for children with hearing loss from birth through school age. Core offerings include the Early Intervention Program, First Sounds Implant Program (with Sydney Children's Hospital), School-Age Services, Inclusive Preschools, Youth Mentoring (Hear For You), and the Sounds Write literacy program, delivered through nine physical centres in NSW/ACT/Tasmania and a national Online Telehealth System.

Product overview

The Shepherd Centre offers a unified, integrated suite of programs and services for children with hearing loss, spanning from early intervention for babies through to teenage years. The core offering consists of the Early Intervention Program, the First Sounds Implant Program (in partnership with Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick), School-Age Services, and the Online Telehealth System. Supporting digital platforms include HearHub (professional development and resources) and the Functional Listening Index – Paediatric (FLI-P) assessment tool. Additional services include Inclusive Preschools, Youth Mentoring via Hear For You, Sounds Write Literacy Program, and specialized modules like Confident Kids social skills programs, Learn & Listen intensive packages, Beyond Sound Alumni Club, and Empower Me family workshops. All services are delivered through an integrated, family-centered model with both in-person and online delivery options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Intervention Program World-leading, family-centered early intervention system for babies and toddlers with hearing loss, providing support from one or two weeks old up to school age with focus on developing listening and spoken language skills.
• First Sounds Implant Program A joint initiative with Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick providing medical, audiological, and family support for children considering implantable hearing solutions such as cochlear implants or bone conduction implant systems.
• School-Age Services Comprehensive services for school-aged children with hearing loss including speech pathology, child and family counselling, school visits, literacy programs, communication assessments, social skills programs, and teacher training.
• Online Telehealth System Digital platform delivering specialist hearing loss services via video-conferencing, enabling families across Australia to access all programs, groups, and one-to-one sessions remotely with the same outcomes as in-person visits.
• HearHub Digital Platform Global digital platform supporting health professionals working with children with hearing loss worldwide, providing innovative online tools, courses, and resources for clinical practice and professional development.
• Functional Listening Index – Paediatric (FLI-P®) Proprietary assessment tool developed in partnership with The HEARing CRC and Cochlear to track and monitor children's listening skills in everyday situations from birth to six years of age; used globally by clinicians.
• Inclusive Preschools Preschool programs rated 'Exceeding' the National Quality Standards, offered at Liverpool and Wollongong centres with small language-rich environments supporting children with and without hearing loss.
• Youth Mentoring (Hear For You) Award-winning mentoring program for teenagers aged 12-18 who are deaf or hard of hearing, offering accessible and evidence-based support and connection with role models.
• Sounds Write Literacy Program Evidence-based literacy program for children aged 6-12 in Tasmania, teaching how spoken sounds connect to written letters and words to build reading and writing skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85%+ of children start school as confident students with equivalent or better language skills than hearing classmates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Sydney Children's Hospital, RandwickcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative delivering the First Sounds Implant Program providing medical, audiological and family support for children with implantable hearing solutions such as cochlear implants.
• HearHubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal platform supporting health professionals working with children with hearing loss worldwide. Provides professional development courses and innovative digital tools.
• Hear For YoucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing accessible and evidence-based mentoring program for young people aged 12-18 who are deaf. Successfully integrated into Shepherd Centre in 2021.
• HEARing CRCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for development of Functional Listening Index – Paediatric (FLI-P®). Clinical research collaboration since 2013.
• CochlearmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for development of FLI-P® tool. Cochlear provides image assets and is partner in research collaboration for paediatric hearing assessment.
• Macquarie UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Hearing Hub location at Macquarie University campus. Partnership for hearing research and professional education.
• Australian HearingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-funded hearing services provider covering cochlear implant devices, parts, repairs and associated costs for eligible children.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ShepherdCentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Shepherd Centre