Today I speak about two important achievements in the field of health care in New South Wales. Both milestones highlight our State's leadership and medical innovation in paediatric care, particularly for those with hearing loss. On 30 July this year I had the honour of representing Premier Chris Minns and the Minister for Health at the official opening of the Shepherd Centre's newest facility in Oran Park. I was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler, along with local MPs and community leaders. The Shepherd Centre is a not‑for‑profit organisation dedicated to providing specialised programs for children with hearing loss and their families. Over the years it has been at the forefront of offering vital support and services that transform lives, enabling children to develop speech and language skills that give them the best chance of reaching their full potential.
The new centre at Oran Park marks a significant milestone for paediatric care in Macarthur and the south‑west. With the area being home to many young families, it is a much‑needed addition to our community. The centre is expected to support over 2,500 children and their families, providing them with the resources, guidance and care they need as they navigate the challenges of hearing loss. Importantly, that achievement would not have been possible without the support of the Australian Government, which committed $2.4 million, and the New South Wales Government, which contributed $2.5 million.
I thank everyone involved, from the Government representatives to the dedicated teams at the Shepherd Centre, led by CEO Dr Aleisha Davis, for making the facility a reality. The project is not just about bricks and mortar but about creating a brighter future for thousands of children. In the centre's short existence, I have had the pleasure to witness firsthand the difference it is already making to young lives. In April I had an early look at the Oran Park facility prior to the official opening. It was then that I met a young boy named Kadir, a recent cochlear implant recipient, and his mum. Both were also in attendance in July for the big opening. It was remarkable to see the impact Kadir's implant was already making and how quickly his language and broader communication skills were developing.
The launch of the centre is fitting as this year marks the fortieth anniversary of the first successful cochlear implant surgery in our State and an extraordinary legacy of medical innovation in New South Wales. On 15 August we remembered the life‑changing moment for Sue Walters, who became the first person in New South Wales to receive a cochlear implant. After becoming deaf in her twenties due to meningitis, in 1984 she volunteered for a groundbreaking procedure at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Although controversial at the time, that surgery, performed by pioneering surgeon Professor Bill Gibson, would go on to change lives of countless individuals around the world. Six months after the implant, Ms Walters became the first deaf person in the world to make a phone call using her cochlear implant—a remarkable achievement in medical history.
Today about 15,000 Australians are living with cochlear implants. However, it is worth noting that only 10 per cent of those who could benefit from the devices are currently using them. Over the past four decades, continuous advancements in technology have resulted in smaller, more comfortable and more precise cochlear implants that integrate seamlessly into daily life. Professor Gibson and the team that pioneered these efforts deserve our deepest gratitude for their relentless commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is medically possible. Their work continues to impact lives both in Australia and globally.
We continue to build on this work by funding and supporting programs that enable our brightest medical minds to continue their research in New South Wales. The importance of fostering innovation in medical technology cannot be overstated. We have an obligation to ensure that this legacy of cutting-edge medical advancement continues, and that our State remains a global leader in medical technology innovation. Our State is the birthplace of the development and manufacture of these life-changing devices. Both the opening of the Shepherd Centre in Oran Park and the fortieth anniversary of the cochlear implant in New South Wales are milestones that remind us of what we can achieve when we invest in innovation and care for the most vulnerable among us.
