Janet may have retired from teaching, but she remains committed to changing children’s lives.

Aware of the profound impact of early education, the former primary school teacher has supported our young clients and teachers for close to 20 years through her generous donations.

Janet has long been aware of the lifechanging impacts of cochlear implants—one of the very first cochlear implant recipients in Australia was a student at Northbridge Public School, where she taught in the 1980s.

She was further inspired by Australian cochlear implant inventor Graeme Clark’s biography. 'I thought, Wow! Isn’t this a great invention!' she says. She has seen the huge improvements in the technology over time and is amazed by how far it’s come.

When Janet retired from teaching, she was keen to continue making a difference to children. So, when she learned that some children living in Australia do not qualify for government support for cochlear implants due to their residency status, she wanted to see how she could help.

Having been a teacher, Janet knows how important it is to treat hearing loss as early as possible to gain access to speech and language. So, after speaking with our Fundraising team, she decided to help fund implants for children with whom we work. And she thought there was no time to waste. “If I wait and do it in my Will… there could be 20 kids waiting for an implant before I die. So I said, ‘Let’s do it now!’” says Janet. To date, Janet has funded implants for six children.

With a master’s degree in language and reading arts, Janet also knows firsthand the benefits of upskilling teachers of children living with disability.

She now funds scholarships for teachers from our school who are undertaking our Master of Disability Studies program.

Janet recently visited NextSense School to see the impact of her support with her own eyes. She was impressed with the inclusive design and tactile elements, including ‘porthole’ windows in the doors at a child’s height.

Janet visiting NextSense School.

Janet also plans to support future generations by leaving a gift to NextSense in her Will. ‘I’m just so interested in helping kids have a better start to life,’ she says.

Janet is keeping busy in her retirement, learning watercolour painting and doing quilting and swimming, but she says she misses the sound of children’s laughter in the classroom. ‘It’s the best sound in the world,’ she says.