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Captain Cook gets LOUD
Four months into the role and Western Australian Premier Roger Cook had successfully faced down numerous tough challenges, yet none quite compared to the daunting decision of which colourful shirt to wear to celebrate Loud Shirt Day.
Mr Cook joined his fellow parliamentarians in swapping out their suits for their brightest shirts at a morning tea at Parliament House. He also presented a $1,000 donation on behalf of the Western Australian Government to Loud Shirt Day ambassadors and Telethon Speech & Hearing Outpost students Eleanor Whitby and Zavier McDonald.
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“Loud Shirt Day is not just about fashion and flair,” explained Mr Cook. “It’s about raising the profile of the one in 500 school-aged children diagnosed with hearing loss and ensuring they have the best possible resources to afford them an education - and quality of life – that is equal to their peers. Telethon Speech & Hearing is an organisation that’s done so much for Western Australian children with hearing loss and speech and language delays. By getting behind Loud Shirt Day, we can help to ensure its great legacy continues into the future.”
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Telethon Speech & Hearing (TSH) ambassadors Eleanor Whitby (9) and Zavier McDonald (14) have a hearing loss and are part of TSH’s Outpost program. The program provides them with a dedicated Teacher of the Deaf at their school to help support them with their language and listening skills and a specialist Education Assistant to help them in the classroom. Additionally, they have access to a Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist, all provided by TSH
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The Outpost program has been invaluable in helping Eleanor and Zavier develop their skills, abilities and confidence and help them thrive in school and navigate life with a hearing loss.
Telethon Speech & Hearing CEO Mark Fitzpatrick was pleased to see the new Premier and his fellow MPs once again throw their weight behind Loud Shirt Day.
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“They looked great,” said Mr Fitzpatrick. “We are delighted that the WA government is helping to create awareness that, through early detection and ongoing support, we can help kids with hearing loss to hear and speak.
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“This kind of endorsement by the WA government goes a long way towards helping us assist thousands of families across the state access essential supports and services.
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“Our Outpost program is the only one of its kind in Australia and is expanding due to the demand from families. We now provide supports such as Teachers of the Deaf to 18 mainstream schools in Perth. We also have a long-standing community health program in regional WA, yet we are barely scratching the surface when it comes to meeting demand. The support of the Western Australian government and other strategic partners, will help us to grow and assist more children and families in need.”
