Conversations with Our Alumni - Webinar

We'd love you to join us for the second in our series of complimentary webinars for 2021 that take a deeper dive into the work we do at The Shepherd Centre.

Conversations with Our Alumni will take place from 12:30pm on Thursday 1st July 2021.

Hear from three inspiring alumni who have had their lives transformed by The Shepherd Centre. Follow the ups, downs and ultimate triumphs in the face of adversity. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions.

Dave Carter was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at an early age and began his journey with The Shepherd Centre at 5 months of age. 
Dave completed his HSC and graduated with a Bachelor of Design with Honours in Animation at Western Sydney University. He also undertook a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW (Majoring in Film). Dave currently works as an animation director, working in 2D and stopmotion animation and his work has been commissioned by Screen Australia, ABC, MTV, Sony BMG, Comedy
Central, and FX networks. His shorts have been screened in numerous film festivals, from Sydney Film Festival to Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

 Emma Kavanagh was diagnosed with a bilateral severe to profound hearing loss two years of age. She began travelling to the Shepherd Centre, Chatswood on a weekly basis from the Central Coast and Newcastle where Anne was her therapist. Graduating from the Shepherd Centre in 1997 with above average speech and language results compared to her hearing peers, Emma went on to attend local mainstream pre-school, primary school and high school where she participated in a host of extra curricular activities. After high school she achieved her dream of becoming a primary school teacher, at University of Newcastle and graduating in 2014, Emma has been employed as a primary school teacher for the past seven years. Emma lives life to the fullest and doesn’t let her hearing loss hold her back.

A graduate of the Wollongong Centre in 1999, Shannon Fox is now 27 years old. Shannon is now more commonly known as a leader, a teacher, a role model to people of all ages and a trailblazer in many networks. Shannon’s commitment to community is hundreds of hours every year, and this is all before her paid work responsibilities. Shannon’s passion for social justice is inspiring, as is her ability to rise in the face of a challenge. She was the Chairperson of the National Paediatric Advisory Panel for Australian Hearing, she is a volunteer lifesaver and has a real aptitude for selflessly raising funds and awareness for community projects and passions, always for the betterment of others. One career highlight for her was being selected by Surf Life Saving Australia to travel to Japan and educate hundreds of lifeguards, educators and leaders to improve their frontline patrols, responses, drowning statistics and beach safety and education. Shannon is also a full-time high school teacher, sharing her passions in History, Geography and dance to school students.

This webinar will be hosted by Dr Anne Fulcher. Anne is one of the most internationally respected people in her field. Formerly The Shepherd Centre’s Principal Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, when she retired, she had spent 45 years following her passion – supporting children and their families with world-leading research to improve outcomes for people with hearing loss.

Anne will interview our alumni and encourage them to share their stories. We will get a wonderful insight into how The Shepherd Centre launches children with hearing loss into a life with limitless potential.

This is a great opportunity to learn about how The Shepherd Centre changes lives and to gain an insight into the experiences of adults with hearing loss, and all from the comfort of your own home, as this is an online event.

If you would like any further information, please call Sam Meisner-Lemon on 02 9370 4470 or e-mail Samantha.Meisner-Lemon@shepherdcentre.org.au