Centre for Families

The WAFDC Centre for Families offers a new and vital service to address the hidden issues for Deaf and/or hard of hearing (DHH) children and their families. We aim to make a difference to the lives of DHH children and their families from cradle to career.

Our evidence based and holistic approach to education and learning beyond the school room can transform young lives and have a significant positive impact for families and the community. Helping families navigate the complex range of needs from diagnosis to schooling by facilitating referral pathways for appropriate services and support.

Our focus is on providing quality services that continues our legacy of championing the needs of DHH children in Western Australia. By working with other service providers we believe:

  • DHH children and their families should have timely access to unbiased specialised knowledge and information.
  • DHH children and their families should have access to professionally qualified service providers who have the core knowledge and skills to enhance the child’s development and child/family wellbeing
  • DHH children and young people should have positive opportunities to improve their education, learning, social and emotional wellbeing

Our Centre for Families

Community engagement

  • Provide information and support to children with a hearing loss and their families to improve their knowledge and self-advocacy skills.
  • Improve family support networks within the deaf community for parents and carers of children with a hearing loss.
  • Provide accurate and unbiased information and resources to support families.
  • Improve collaborative opportunities to work in partnership.

Continuing Professional Development

  • Provide opportunities for professionals and families to improve their knowledge and expertise and skills.
  • Improve the confidence and skills of families by improving their knowledge.

Children and Young people’s social wellbeing

  • Provide opportunities for DHH children and young people to develop their practical knowledge and skills.
  • Improve the confidence, emotional wellbeing and connectedness of children and young adults

In 2019, join us at:

  • Family Network Group
    WAFDC provides community support through our Family Network Group (FNG). Parents are invited to come along to information sessions designed to: improve knowledge to be able to make informed decisions regarding their child’s hearing loss; provide the skills to self-advocate; learn a skill; or to learn from an expert.
    Parents are also invited to fun events for families to meet other families who are on a similar journey in a relaxed environment including have a go days for families to participate in things like archery, circus workshops, athletics and craft.
  • Parent Connect Morning Tea
    Parents and carers are invited to attend morning tea’s every term to meet one another. Meeting at WAFDC, these are casual unstructured get togethers, providing an opportunity for conversation, sharing knowledge and friendship between parents.
  • Peer Mentoring
    For Parents: WAFDC provides trained parent mentors who you can talk to about your child’s hearing loss and their experience as a parent, people who have been on a similar path. Parents supporting other parents.
    For Children/Youth: Rock & Water, Resilient Doughnut and peer mentoring for young people. WAFDC provides structured training and skill development for children of different age groups to meet and participate in programs that build self-esteem, improve confidence and develop anti bullying strategies and skills.
    D.E.A.F Express
    Each year WAFDC hosts a number of speakers to tell us their story about a specific topic. Young people, parents and experts provide short presentations on a topic that is Encouraging, Assisting and Factual, relating to Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

For more details contact us on (08) 9385 3557 or email admin@wafdc.org.au