In what is believed to be an Australian first, identical deaf twin babies have undergone bilateral cochlear implant surgery on the same day, and later had their implants activated simultaneously.
Arthur (Artie) and Jack Porter were born premature and profoundly deaf because of a genetic condition.
Sydney ENT surgeon Dr Rithvik Reddy operated on the brothers earlier in 2026.
Two boys, four ears, eight hours of surgery and, 15 days later they reached a remarkable milestone the moment they both heard sound together when their cochlear implants were activated simultaneously.
“When Artie and Jack were diagnosed at birth, we were overwhelmed and uncertain about what the future would hold,” their parents, Emily and Ewan Porter from Moss Vale, NSW, said.
“The support we have received has helped us navigate every stage of this unique journey so far and we know it gives our boys the best possible start in life.”
The good news story was released around the same time as the NSW Government committed $20.4 million over four years to fund specialist support provided by not-for-profit organisations The Shepherd Centre and NextSense for children with cochlear implants.
The funds will help the centres deliver the NSW Paediatric Cochlear Implant Program, in partnership with NSW Health.
“Knowing families will now have fully funded access to that same support means the world to us,” the Porters said.
“We’re incredibly grateful to The Shepherd Centre, the clinicians, our family and friends, and everyone who helped us along the way.”
Dr Aleisha Davis, CEO of The Shepherd Centre, said the announcement sends a powerful message to families across NSW who may be at the beginning of their own hearing loss journey.
“If you’ve recently received a diagnosis, please know you are not alone,” she said in a media release. on 21 June 2026. “There is support and a community ready to help at The Shepherd Centre.
“So, you have every reason to be optimistic about your child’s future. We encourage families to seek support early because early intervention can make an extraordinary difference to a child’s development and long-term outcomes.”
The funding announcement by Health Minister Ryan Park and NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey brought NSW into line with every other state and territory, ahead of the formal Budget announcement on 24 June 2026.
The Shepherd Centre said the funding secured services for about 1,000 children and families across NSW each year. And the funding meant the families no longer must rely on the centre’s philanthropic efforts to access care that is free elsewhere in Australia, the centre said.
It said that without early intervention, deaf children could cost the community more than $580,000 over a lifetime in additional support needs
Landmark investment
Dr Aleisha Davis, CEO of The Shepherd Centre said the funding was a landmark investment in the future of deaf children across NSW.
“This truly is a lifechanging moment for deaf children and their families accessing cochlear implant support services,” she said. “The investment gives children the best possible start in life, provides certainty for families and delivers long-term value for NSW by ensuring children receive the support they need when it matters most.
“Cochlear implants are only one part of the journey. Children need ongoing specialist care before and after surgery to learn to interpret sound, develop communication skills and build confidence with this technology. This funding ensures more families can access that support and focus on their child’s future.
“For families who choose a spoken language pathway, this funding opens the door to exceptional outcomes. It gives children the opportunity to communicate with confidence, connect with others and participate fully in the hearing world around them.”
“On behalf of the thousands of children and families we support, I want to thank the NSW Government, Minister Park, our clinicians, supporters, advocates and the many families who courageously shared their stories to help achieve this outcome.”
The centre also recognised Associate Professor Phillip Chang, whose clinical leadership and long-standing support had helped strengthen the case for sustainable paediatric cochlear implant care in NSW.
NextSense said the funding would “help ensure that follow-up care for children who receive cochlear implants can be sustained well into the future.”
“This includes the initial ‘switch-on’ of a cochlear implant sound processor, ongoing mapping and monitoring, and early intervention to support listening, language, communication and social skills,” NextSense said in a media release.
Read more
NSW Government pledges $20 million for cochlear implant care in children
