www.wafdc.org.

au
 Since 1896

We promise to support local children with hearing loss,

providing evidence based skills for life with an inclusive and collaborative approach
that offers the best quality service. It is a legacy which began in 1896.

WAFDC Centre for Families, 53 Curtin Avenue Cottesloe

Key Issues for deaf children and families

Parents struggle to navigate the complex and challenging medical, therapeutic

and educational pathway for managing a child with hearing loss

A Deaf child is four times more at risk of mental health issues associated with the challenges of being
misunderstood and social isolation

There are over 4000 Deaf children in WA at school

90% are born to hearing parents

83% attend mainstream school where they may be one of a few children with a profound
hearing loss

12 out of 10,000 babies are born with a moderate or greater hearing loss

23 out of 10,000 children will acquire a hearing loss by the age of 17 due to illness,
accident or other causes
WAFDC Values -the code by which we live:

Trail Blazing
Finding and implementing new ways to help the lives
of deaf children and their families.

Informed
Knowledge and support for deaf children and their
families from cradle to career.

Committed
Improving the lives of deaf children is reason we do
what we do, every day.

Respectful
We have no agenda.

Collaborative
By working together we can achieve great things.
How can you help?
How do we get funding without relying on traditional sources?
Philanthropy
Partnerships
Grants
Fundraising

Social media campaign strategy that is far reaching, cost

effective but low in human resourcing capacity?

What is our strategy for marketing our WAFDC Centre for

Families?

You are the expert, you tell me

Lynne van Olden

CEO
(08) 9385 3557
lynneo@wafdc.org.au
What do we do?
Provide independent unbiased information based on family choice

How do we do this?
Collaborative partnerships
Family Centred Practice
Build the knowledge & Skills of
professionals working in deaf education
We assist in :
Quality teacher training and professional education
opportunities in western Australia
Qualified teachers of the deaf since 1987
Provide financial support for professional development and
scholarships for teachers of the deaf since 1994
Provide continuing professional educational opportunities
each year for teachers, educational assistants & other
professionals
Evidence based practice
Support research and development of resources for professionals:
Dr. Maria Remine (university of Melbourne, 2009) Preliminary
investigation of mental health of young West Australians.
John Richards (The Renwick Centre, 2012) Family Centred Practice
Framework.
Dr. Jill Duncan (The Renwick Centre 2012 - 2014) Online social capital
and literacy skills of adolescents with a hearing loss.
Family centred practice
Professionals and families working as equal partners in supporting the
learning and development of a child
The Foundation strives to
work with other organizations
support the needs of children
and their families
The early years of our
children's lives are the
foundation for a good life and
a strong community
Families involved in their child's learning is
linked to better education and life outcomes
COLLABORATION