A

Able Australia

Able Australia is committed to support the interests and needs of people with multiple disabilities including deafblindness.

Acoustic Neuroma Association NSW

Provides quality information and support for people affected by Acoustic Neuroma, including patients, their families, medical and allied professionals, relevant organisations and the community.

Email: info@acousticneuroma.com.au
Web: www.acousticneuroma.com.au

Auslan Shop

TTY: (02) 9871 8400
Ph (voice): (02) 9873 3420
Fax: (02) 9871 8218
Email: info@auslanshop.com.au
Web: www.auslanshop.com.au

Aussie Deaf Kids

Online information and support for families raising a deaf child.

Australian Communication Exchange (ACE)

ACE is a not for profit company undertaking to ensure equity of access to communication channels for Australians who are Deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment.

Australian DeafBlind Council (ADBC)

ADBC a network for deafblind people or other interested people. Its purpose is to be the national council representing Australians who are deafblind, their support networks and organisations working in the field.

Australian Federation of Deaf Societies (AFDS)

AFDS lobbies and advocates on behalf of the various Australian state-based Deaf Societies to assist in ensuring people who are Deaf or hard of hearing enjoy the same political, civil and human rights as other members of the community.

Australian Hearing

Australian Hearing is a federal government agency delivering hearing services to eligible Australians. (Check www.hearing.com.au for eligibility criteria).

TTY: (02) 9412 6802
Ph (voice): 131 797
Fax: (02) 9413 3855
Email: enquiry@hearing.com.au
Web: www.hearing.com.au

"Choices" Publication
This publication has been designed for parents and families of children who have been newly diagnosed as deaf or hearing impaired.

CHOICES is provided free of charge to parents/carers of children who have a hearing loss. Other individuals/organisations may purchase copies. For more information go to www.hearing.com.au/fact-sheets.

Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association (ASLIA)

ASLIA is the national peak organisation for Auslan Interpreters in Australia.
ASLIA National provides a platform for the views of sign language interpreters throughout the nation on a variety of issues, including training, ongoing professional development, recruitment, working conditions, salaries, and the provision of services within the sign language interpreting industry.

Email: info@aslia.com.au
Postal: PO Box 189 Haberfield NSW Australia 2045
Web: www.aslia.com.au

Australian Sign Language Interpreters Association (NSW) Inc.
ASLIA (NSW)

ASLIA (NSW) advocates for the use of professional interpreting services and provides professional development, regular mailouts with information about interpreting and a support network for Auslan interpreters in NSW.

Australian Theatre of the Deaf

ATOD produces theatrical performances and workshops for deaf and hearing school and community audiences.

TTY: (02) 9310 1205
Ph (voice): (02) 9310 1255
Fax: (02) 9318 2835
Mobile:  0421 828 222
Email: info@atod.org.au
Web: www.atod.org.au

To see ATOD's 2009 Primary School Program, click here.
To see ATOD's 2009 High School Program, click here.

Australian Tinnitus Association (NSW)

A non-profit company supported by the South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service that provides information, support and counselling to tinnitus sufferers and preventative education to the wider community.

B

Better Hearing Australia

Better Hearing Australia is a non-profit, self-help organisation controlled by its members and provides an Australia-wide community support service of rehabilitation and help for Australia's hearing impaired.

C

The Children's Hospital Deafness Centre

The Children's Hospital Deafness Centre provides a multidisciplinary service to help deaf and hearing impaired children and their families where there is a problem or query associated with the hearing loss.

D

Deaf Australia (formerly Australian Association of the Deaf)

Australian Association of the Deaf is the national peak body managed by Deaf people that represents, promotes, preserves, and informs the development of, the Australian Deaf Community, its language and cultural heritage.

Deaf Australia NSW (formerly NSWAD)

Provides information, organises events for the NSW Deaf community and lobbies government departments and other organisations to make sure Deaf people get what they need.

Deaf CanDo

South Australia's second oldest charity, provides services and programs which help to equip the Deaf community with the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to live independently while having access to the full range of community services and facilities.

Deaf Children Australia (formerly VSDC)

Provides information, advocacy, support services and educational resources that respond to the needs of these children and their families.

Deaf Mothers Club for the West

Mutual support group for Deaf mothers. The club meets every 4th Tuesday of the month.

Deaf Services Queensland

Provides a range of services to the Queensland Deaf and hearing communities.

TTY: (07) 3892 8501
Ph (voice): (07) 3892 8500
Fax: (07) 3392 8511
Email: dsq@deafsq.org.au
Web: www.deafservicesqld.org.au

Deafblind Association (NSW)

DBA NSW advocates for improved services for DeafBlind people and promotes self advocacy.

Deafness Council of NSW

Deafness Forum is a peak consumer body for hard of hearing/hearing impaired people in NSW. The organisation coordinates Hearing Awareness Week.

Deafness Forum of Australia

Established in early 1993 at the instigation of the Australian government, the Deafness Forum now represents all interests and viewpoints of the Deaf and hearing impaired communities of Australia (including those people who have a chronic disorder of the ear and those who are DeafBlind).

Disability Watch

Disability Watch is a disability resource news centre.

Web: www.disabilitywatch.org

Dubbo and District Parent Support Group for Deaf/Hearing Impaired Inc

A support group for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing in the Dubbo district.

Ph (voice): (02) 6884 6714
Mob: 0419 534 447
Fax: (02) 6884 8029

E

Ephpheta Centre

Ephpheta Centre is a Catholic centre for Deaf people in the Parramatta, Sydney and Broken Bay dioceses providing a variety of activities, regular signed Masses and social activities for Deaf/hearing impaired.

TTY: (02) 9708 6904
Ph (voice): (02) 9708 1396
Fax: (02) 9709 5638
Email: office@ephpheta.org.au
Web: www.ephpheta.org.au

Early Learning Program / Welwyn Centre

The Early Learning Program of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) caters for children with hearing impairment and their families. The program helps children from the time of diagnosis of their hearing loss, until school entry.

F

The Forsight Foundation for Deaf and Blind Adults

A continuum of care with regard to accommodation, day programs and recreation services for adults who are Deaf and Blind.

J

Jehovah's Witnesses in NSW

Jehovah's Witnesses provide weekly meetings in Auslan featuring discussions about the Bible and how to use it in our lives, as well as offering free home Bible lessons.

Web: www.watchtower.org

Jim Patrick Audiology Centre

A family-friendly audiology clinic at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, offering a full range of children's audiological services. Requires a referral from a Medical Practitioner.

M

Makaton Resource Centre (Australia)

Makaton is a form of sign language using key word sign and gesture. This centre is the national representative of Makaton Australia.

Macquarie University Audiology Clinic

Provides audiology testing.

Media Access Australia

MAA is a non-profit organisation that works in collaboration with consumer organisations, Government and industry across the country to provide information to the public on captioning across all mediums and bring access to media to disadvantaged people across Australia.

Ménière's Support Group of NSW

Provides telephone counselling, The Balancer newsletter and information for people who have Ménière’s disease.

Mullauna Village

Mullauna Village is a retirement centre situated at Blacktown and run by the Uniting Church of Australia which caters for the specific needs of Deaf people.

N

NABS (National Auslan Interpreter Booking & Payment Service)

NABS provides interpreters for Deaf and hard of hearing people who use sign language when attending private medical appointments. It is free of charge to Sign Language users and medical practitioners. Funded by FaHCSIA.

National Relay Service (NRS)

The National Relay Service is a telephone relay service that allows people who are deaf or have a hearing, speech or other communication impairment to make phone calls.

Contact the NRS Helpdesk:
TTY: 1800 555 630
Ph (voice): 1800 555 660
Fax: 1800 555 690
SMS: 0416 001 350
Email: helpdesk@relayservice.com.au
Web / Internet Access: www.relayservice.com.au

Emergency Calls
TTY: 106
Speak and Listen (SSR): 1800 555 727 and ask for 000

North Shore Deaf Children's Association

A support network for parents, friends, professionals of children with a hearing loss.

Email: nsdca-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Postal Address: PO Box 533, Chatswood NSW 2057

Nova Employment and Training

Nova Employment has a Deaf employment service working out of the following offices if you make an appointment first. Miranda, Hurstville, Campbelltown, Blacktown, Penrith and Richmond. We help people who are Deaf to find employment and provide onsite support in the work.

P

Parent Council for Deaf Education (PCDE)

PCDE is a not-for-profit parent organisation which aims to provide families with independent, unbiased information and support. PCDE collaborates with parents, professionals, Government departments and other organisations to promote equity of access to services and opportunities for families of deaf and hearing impaired children, irrespective of their chosen method of communication.

Parents of Deaf (POD) Group - Lismore

A peer support group for parents of deaf children, which aims to provide support and balanced infornation in a friendly non-judgmental environment.

Parents of Deaf (POD) Group - Macarthur

POD is a support group for all parents, carers and family who have child/ren that are deaf/hearing impaired.

Printacall

R

The Renwick Centre

A centre for research and professional studies in the education of children with sensory disabilities (affiliated with the University of Newcastle and administered by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children).

Roberta Reid Centre

A preschool providing special education for preschool-aged Deaf children who use Auslan (Australian Sign Language). An RIDBC program.

RIDBC Teleschool

A high-quality service to families living in rural and regional areas of Australia who have a child diagnosed with hearing and/or vision loss. An RIDBC program.

Royal Institute of Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC)

The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children is Australia 's oldest and largest independent special educator. RIDBC provides a wide range of innovative educational services to children who are deaf, hearing impaired, blind or vision impaired, including children with additional disabilities.

Programs include:

• Early Learning Program / Welwyn Centre
• Alice Betterage School
• Roberta Reid Centre
• Thomas Pattison School
• The Renwick Centre
• Itinerant Teacher Support
• RIDBC Teleschool
• Jim Patrick Audiology Centre
• Rockie Woofit Preschool

TTY: (02) 9871 1233
Ph (voice): (02) 9871 1233
Fax: (02) 9871 2196
Email: online@ridbc.org.au
Web: www.ridbc.org.au

S

The Shepherd Centre

Provides an oral education to pre-school aged hearing impaired children.

SHHH Australia

SHHH Australia Inc. is a voluntary organisation giving services and support to hearing impaired people throughout Australia who communicate orally.

Ph (voice) and TTY: (02) 9144 7586
Fax: (02) 9144 3936
Email: shhh@netspace.net.au
Web: www.shhhaust.org

To see a list of Information Sheets on the Shhh Australia website about being hard of hearing (hearing impaired), click here.

Signbank

An interactive online Auslan dictionary.

St Dominics School for Hearing Impaired Children

A Catholic special school within the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese, enrolling students who are deaf, hearing impaired and severely language disordered.

TTY: (02) 4968 1295
Ph (voice): (02) 4968 1295
Fax: (02) 4968 0456
Email: admin@mayfldsd.mn.catholic.edu.au
Web: http://mayfldsd.mn.catholic.edu.au

St Gabriels School for Hearing Impaired Children

Provide a caring and challenging Christian education for children with hearing impairment, to help them achieve their full potential through focussing on language development and intelligible speech acquired through listening.

Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre

Provides services to people of all ages who are considering or who have received cochlear implants.

T

Tasmanian Deaf Society

The Tasmanian Deaf Society provides services which empower Deaf and Hard of Hearing Tasmanians to be independent, confident and achieve their goals.

Thomas Pattison School

An innovative school at the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children meeting the needs of students from Kindergarten to Year 10 who use Australian Sign Language (Auslan) as their first or preferred language.

V

Vicdeaf

Vicdeaf is the primary source of reference, referral, advice and support for deaf adults in Victoria.

Vision Australia

Vision Australia is the nation’s leading provider of blindness and low vision services. It provides the equipment and training that enables people who are blind or have low vision to live their lives to the full. Includes services for people who are deafblind.

TTY:  (02) 9334 3260
Ph (voice): 1300 84 74 66
Fax: (02) 9747 5993
Email: info@visionaustralia.org
Web: www.visionaustralia.org/info.aspx?page=690

W

WA Deaf Society

The WA Deaf Society is a non-profit organization established in 1921 to provides services to Deaf and hard of hearing people in Western Australia. Our mission is to provide the best contemporary services to advance the status of Deaf and hard of hearing people.

TTY: (08) 9441 2655
Ph (voice): (08) 9441 2677
Fax: (08) 9441 2616
Email: wadeaf@wadeaf.org.au
Web: www.wadeaf.org.au

W.I.L.M.A.

W.I.L.M.A. provides ongoing activities or seminars. The centre also offers support/counselling in Auslan and coordinates the Deaf Women’s Group. All ages and nationality are welcome.

Lorraine, the coorinator, is Deaf and and identifies strongly with the Deaf Community. Women can book an appointment with Lorraine for support/counselling in Auslan by SMS.

SMS: 0456 777 748
TTY: (02) 4627 2955
Fax: (02)4628 67251
Email: lorraine@wilma.org.au