These grants are making a tangible difference by helping to provide essential resources and services for children with hearing loss across Tasmania.
Lynsey Smith, Regional Manager of The Shepherd Centre Tasmania, expressed her heartfelt appreciation, saying, “We are enormously grateful to Harcourts for this generous grant.
Our service in Tasmania is growing exponentially, currently supporting over 65 children with speech, language, listening, and social skills.”
The Shepherd Centre has received multiple grants from The Harcourts Foundation.
One grant facilitated the purchase of soft modular play furniture (the NooK sofa) and a selection of musical instruments, aimed at creating a welcoming and engaging environment at the Hobart centre.
This initiative enhances creativity, promotes social interaction, and encourages the development of listening and spoken language through therapeutic activities.
Additionally, another grant, initially requested to fund a single iPad at $970, was increased to $3,000, enabling the purchase of three iPads. These devices will bolster tailored and interactive learning.
Belinda Dowde, Ambassador, Harcourts Foundation, Tasmania, shared her excitement about the partnership, stating, “We were thrilled to be able to help out The Shepherd Centre once again through a Harcourts Foundation grant.
They have recently opened their new centre in Launceston to help them better service families in the North of the state, and we were able to provide a grant to purchase sensory furniture and musical instruments, similar to what we provided to The Shepherd Centre in Hobart last year.”
Lynsey Smith points out “Music and play are essential aspects of learning, engagement and social growth for children.
Breaks during learning that involve movement are critical to maintaining a child’s focus and enjoyment in learning.”
“The musical instruments donated by the Harcourts Foundation have had such a positive impact on our learning environments”
Offering an inclusive way for children to explore music, the tactile and auditory engagement supports emotional expression, creativity, and self-esteem, making a remarkable impact on their overall development.
The Shepherd Centre has been a leader in helping children with hearing loss to listen and speak for over 50 years.
Through their world-class early intervention programs for babies and toddlers, and initiatives such as the “Hear for You” mentoring program for school-aged children and teenagers, The Shepherd Centre is ensuring that every child can achieve their full potential regardless of hearing ability.
Established in 2008, The Harcourts Foundation upholds core values of putting people first, doing the right thing, showing courage, and celebrating the joy of giving.
The Foundation supports community groups, charities, and causes like The Shepherd Centre, across Australia, delivering meaningful change, one grant at a time.
