STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms BYRNES (Cunningham) (13:31): This week, I met two incredible sisters from Wollongong, 13-year-old Mia and 12-year-old Halle Shaw, who were born with moderate hearing loss. They came to parliament to tell their story for the Shepherd Centre's Power of Speech event, and I wanted to share some of their speech. Both girls proudly call their pink cochlear implants their 'buds', because they're buddies.

Mia, who spoke on behalf of shy sister Halle, said: We were really lucky to get help when we were very little. We had our hearing aids, then our cochlear implants, and people at The Shepherd Centre have always been there for us, helping us learn to listen and speak. I think every child with hearing loss should get that kind of help as early as possible, so they can grow up doing the things they love too.

And be ready to go to school, just like any other kid. I'm really proud of Halle for always being her silly self. And I'm really proud of both of us for standing here at Parliament House and getting to share our story.

Mia and Halle, you deserve to be proud. Your speech was a wonderful tale of two sisters who love to dance and also happen to have hearing loss. Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you to the Shepherd Centre for the work that you do for children and families across Australia.