The Shepherd Centre
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersNewton Boyd, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
The Shepherd Centre firmographics
Firmographics- 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
The Shepherd Centre industry classification
Industry- 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
Where The Shepherd Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newton Boyd
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices13 records
Markets served
The Shepherd Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- Grants: Vital work funded by acquisition of grants from government and non-government sources, enabling research and program expansion.
- Optional Monthly Membership Fee: Small optional monthly membership fee charged to families, not covered by private health fund or NDIS.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | NDIS-funded early intervention services |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | First Sounds Implant Program |
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Sounds Write Pilot Program (Tasmania) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Shepherd Centre product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use The Shepherd Centre
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Shepherd Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Shepherd Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Sydney Children's Hospital, RandwickcoreJoint initiative delivering the First Sounds Implant Program providing medical, audiological and family support for children with implantable hearing solutions such as cochlear implants.
- HearHubcoreGlobal platform supporting health professionals working with children with hearing loss worldwide. Provides professional development courses and innovative digital tools.
- Hear For YoucorePartnership providing accessible and evidence-based mentoring program for young people aged 12-18 who are deaf. Successfully integrated into Shepherd Centre in 2021.
- HEARing CRCmajorResearch partnership for development of Functional Listening Index – Paediatric (FLI-P®). Clinical research collaboration since 2013.
- CochlearmajorPartnership for development of FLI-P® tool. Cochlear provides image assets and is partner in research collaboration for paediatric hearing assessment.
- Macquarie UniversityminorAustralian Hearing Hub location at Macquarie University campus. Partnership for hearing research and professional education.
- Australian HearingcoreGovernment-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
The Shepherd Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Shepherd Centre social profiles
Digital presenceThe Shepherd Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Shepherd Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
The Shepherd Centre subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Shepherd Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Shepherd Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Shepherd Centre
What does The Shepherd Centre do?
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.
Is The Shepherd Centre a public or private company?
The Shepherd Centre is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Shepherd Centre founded?
The Shepherd Centre was founded in 1970. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Shepherd Centre based?
The Shepherd Centre is headquartered in Newton Boyd, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does The Shepherd Centre make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. NDIS Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy, grants and optional Monthly Membership Fee.
Does The Shepherd Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Shepherd Centre.
What industry is The Shepherd Centre in?
The Shepherd Centre's product category is Pediatric Hearing Loss Early Intervention Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAFAB, Speech & Language Therapy (Early Intervention), with a secondary code of EDAKAAAE, Special Needs Early Intervention & Preschool Programs. Its NAICS code is 621340 and its SIC code is 8300.