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14 

April 2016

We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their

continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them

and their cultures, and to elders both past and present. We acknowledge the

challenge that faces Indigenous leaders and families to overcome the unacceptably

high levels of ear health issues among first Australians.

National Deafness Sector SummitThe Honourable John Howard OM AC, 25th Prime Minister of

 Australia will present a key-note address at the National

Deafness Sector Summit on 7 May in Sydney. 

Renowned ENT surgeon performs 1,000th 

cochlear implant surgery “Deafness is not a hindrance, but an amazing part of my

identity which I have used to leverage myself to greater

ambitions,” said recipient Jessica Laing.

Future of Hearing Services A coalition of not for profit organisations has alerted political

parties, ahead of a federal election, to issues of deep concern

to the Australian public.

The planned transition of some client groups from the

 Australian Government Hearing Services Program to the NDIS

is being actively investigated. There has been a recent

announcement on the potential change of ownership of the

 Australian Government hearing services provider, Australian

Hearing.

Miss Universe Australia finalist claims to

have ‘healed’ deaf girl  A former model working in Uganda performed the ‘healing’ by

putting her fingers in the girl’s ear and chanting a prayer. 

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The Libby Harricks Memorial Oration will be presented by The Honourable John Howard OM AC,25th Prime Minister of Australia. Mr Howard wore two hearing aids throughout his professionalcareer.

Since 1999, the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration series has raised awareness of important issuesrelating to hearing loss and deafness. In 2016 it is a key-note address at the National DeafnessSector Summit.

The Summit is a national conference for the one in six Australians who are hard of hearing, Deaf,deafblind, have a hearing loss or a chronic ear or balance disorder, and the families who supportthem.

It will launch a campaign to make Hearing Health & Well-being a National Priority in Australia.*

When: Saturday, 7 May 2016, from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PMWhere:  Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University Sydney

  General admission price $65.00. Tickets are limited 

Real time captioning, hearing augmentation and Auslan interpreting will be provided  Morning and afternoon teas and lunch included  Endorsed by Audiology Australia for 9 CPD points for its members attending the event (no.

CPD1517 131)

We acknowledge a funding contribution by the Australian Government as a National DisabilityConference initiative, and the Australian Hearing Hub for providing the meeting place.

Learn more and register to attend herewww.eventbrite.com/e/national-deafness-sector-summit-libby-harricks-memorial-oration-tickets-21284949858  

* The campaign to make Hearing Health & Well-being a National Priority in Australia receivesfinancial support from The Deaf Society, Oticon Australia, Ai-media, SHHH (Self-Help for Hard ofHearing People), Hearing Life, Conexu Foundation, Audiology Australia, Western Hearing Services, AudioClinic, Cochlear Ltd, Adelaide Digital Hearing Solutions, Victorian Hearing.

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Renowned surgeon celebrates 1,000 cochlear

implant surgeries

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children (RIDBC) celebrated

a significant milestone when Associate Professor Catherine

Birman, Medical Director of SCIC Cochlear Implant Program,

performed her 1,000th cochlear implant surgery.

 As a prominent Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon, A/Prof Birman

knows how important technology is for children and adults

experiencing moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss.

 “It is a great honour to be part of so many different people’s

 journeys to better hearing. Technology has come a long way

since Professor Graeme Clark’s first cochlear implant recipient

in 1978, with SCIC recipients receiving a cochlear implant at

ages from 3 months to 95 years and hearing through the implant getting better and

better,” said A/Prof Birman.

21 year old university student Jessica Liang from Auburn NSW received her second cochlear

implant this month from A/Prof Birman.

Jessica was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at 12 months of age and hasn’t lookedback since receiving her first cochlear implant at just 22 months.

 “I cannot imagine a world without sound. My cochlear implant

has allowed me to dream big, explore opportunities and

connect with other people around me. Deafness is not a

hindrance, but an amazing part of my identity which I have

used to leverage myself to greater ambitions,” said Jessica.

 “I was nervous but also excited about receiving my secondcochlear implant and I’m very much looking forward to

hearing sounds through my right ear and no longer having to

adjust my position accordingly,” said Jessica.

 “Don’t be afraid to shout out to the world about your deafness. I know you might be

struggling with your hearing, I struggled at one point but everyone has his or her own

challenges. Did you know that by 2050, 1 in 4 Australians are projected to have some form

of hearing loss? You’re not alone so step up to the challenge and take action to educate

yourself on your hearing levels and set daily goals to manage your hearing,” said Jessica.

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 Australian model claims she has ‘healed’ a deaf

 African child through a very bizarre method

 A Gold Coast model, who was a finalist in the Miss Universe Australia competition, claims to

have ‘healed’ a young deaf girl — by putting her fingers in the girls ear, and chanting a

prayer twice over. 

Rebecca Ronald, who has modeled for Lorna Jane and surf brand Billabong, was working in

Uganda when she ‘healed’ the young girl.

 “As (her partner) Riley & I were preaching, she stood out to me and I had such a

compassion for her. Afterwards while we were praying for each individual, I asked her to

come aside & as I went to speak, her friend intervened to say that she was deaf.

 “I had just finished preaching on what God had been teaching me about; the power of

faith, and knowing my God can do all things, I said to her, ‘you are about to hear for the

first time’.

 “I prayed once — nothing happened, then I felt Holy Spirit say, put your fingers in her earand command them to open.”

Ms Ronald said the miracle was an example of “why God can do all things.” “Sounds easy,

but in the moment, it can be the hardest thing because is requires the very thing I taught

on, faith with power which opposes human reasoning — so I did and when I finished

praying, her face lit up and overjoyed she said ‘I can HEAR for the first time!!!!’’

 “The Lord told me to expect miracles this trip & miracles is what we are seeing,’ she said.

From news.com.au

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Join the conversation to help primary school students who are hard of hearing or Deaf,

overcome communication barriers in mainstream schools.

 Are you a parent of a primary school student who is Deaf or hard of hearing? Are there

gaps in the support available to help your child at school?

Conexu Foundation is a national non-profit organisation that uses technology to break

down communication barriers. It is currently researching the role technology and related

supports could play in assisting students, their families and teachers.

Join a conversation and discuss your experiences to explore any unmet need and potential

solutions. You don’t need to know anything about technology. You just need to share your

everyday experience.

The focus groups will be held in person in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane during April and

May. The groups are expected to last around 2 hours and you will be reimbursed for any

out of pocket expenses as well as a small financial incentive to thank you for your time.

If you would like more information or to register your interest, please contact Tamara at

Proof Research via the phone on 07 3392 4446 or email tamara@proofresearch.com.au 

Do you want to take part in testing Cochlear’s new program,

Telephone with Confidence? 

The program is suitable for anyone with a Cochlear™ Nucleus® implant who would like to

build their confidence using the phone.

For more information on the Australian program, please email Akendrick@cochlear.com and

visit the Cochlear Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CochlearANZ/ 

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Sydney Deaf Rugby LeagueFootball Club is hosting our

SPECIAL 50 YEARS

CELEBRATION LUNCHEON

on Saturday 29 October 2016from 11.00am to 5.00pmat Bankstown Sports Club

8 Greenfeld Parade

Bankstown, NSW 2200

Major Event too good to be missed!

*   *

**

SYDNEY DEAF

RUGBY LEAGUE

1966-2016 SDRLFC50SDRLFC50

Event Ticketing via Eventbrite: 

https://deafrugbyleagueparty.eventbrite.com.au

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The planned transition of some client groups from the Australian Government Hearing

Services Program to the National Disability Insurance Scheme is being actively investigated

by the Government.

There has been a recent announcement on the potential change of ownership of the

 Australian Government hearing services provider, Australian Hearing.

 A coalition of not for profit organisations has alerted political parties, ahead of a federal

election to these issues of deep concern to the Australian public.

Both of these issues have the potential to have a detrimental effect on the outcomes of the

most vulnerable client groups unless certain safeguards are put into place to ensure that

the quality and standards of service delivery are not compromised through changes to

existing arrangements.

The implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme will see contestabilityintroduced to paediatric hearing services in Australia for the first time. Australian Hearing

has been the sole provider of hearing services to Deaf and hard of hearing children for

almost 70 years. The ability of the market to provide these services is untested which

introduces areas of risk in terms of access, equity, and clinician skill, standards and service

quality. The National Health Service in the United Kingdom investigated making paediatric

hearing services contestable and decided against it as they could not find a sufficient

number of providers willing to take on this client group. Additionally, if the Government

proceeds with the transfer of ownership of Australian Hearing to a consortium which

includes an early intervention provider, the provision of independent advice in relation to

early intervention services may be lost.

There is a very strong message from the families of children with hearing loss that they

would rather forego the choice of provider in order to retain the high quality and trusted

service they receive from Government-owned Australian Hearing.

 Attend the 9th National Deafness Sector Summit in Sydney next month to receive

a comprehensive briefing.  Register at www.eventbrite.com/e/national-deafness-sector-

summit-libby-harricks-memorial-oration-tickets-21284949858 

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SHHH would like to collaborate with audiologists in relation to the services that

it offers to those with hearing loss.

SHHH Australia Inc (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People) believes that patients who are

well supported after they have been fitted with hearing aids achieve a more successful

hearing experience outcome and are more likely to become a repeat client and in turn will

refer others. Supported patients also integrate far better back into society and there is less

likelihood of further downstream hearing related health problems. SHHH does not wish to

take business away from audiology practices but would aim to complement and extend the

service provided for patients.

SHHH believes that patients experiencing hearing loss need support both before they seek

professional diagnosis and after they have been fitted with assistive devices (e.g. hearing

aids), as part of the rehabilitation process.

SHHH can provide Outreach presentations on such topics as Hearing Loss and its

Management and Effective Communication Techniques. Shhh provides information on

 Assistive Listening Devices that can be used around the home e.g. alarms, volume control

phones etc, as well as reading material on hearing loss issues. Shhh is also happy to workwith individuals and small groups to assist their adjustment to wearing hearing aids and

their ability to interact in a variety of situations. A range of other related services is also

available.

 As SHHH recognises that all audiology practices vary in size and in the scope of their

services, they would be very happy to initially meet with audiologists at their practices to

discuss ways that they may be able to work together and towards achieving more

successful outcomes for the practice and those with hearing loss.

SHHH runs a hearing aid bank in which they offer donated hearing aids to be fitted to those

who meet their criteria determined by need. Not only can you donate any available devices

to Shhh, you can play an active part in the hearing aid bank by offering your professional

services by fitting donated hearing aids to Shhh approved patients in your own clinics.

Contact Shhh to be part of this scheme.

Email: shhh@netspace.net.au Website: www.shhhaust.org 

From the newsletter of Independent Audiologists Australia www.independentaudiologists.net.au 

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http://www.vision6.com.au/em/mail/view.php?id=1029807&a=44437&k=3d0800c 

 Anticancer drug restores Hearing in some patients

The anticancer drug bevacizumab restores hearing loss in some patients with

neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), according to researchers from the Johns Hopkins Medicine,

the National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts General Hospital. The study published

in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on March 14 states that the drug stops blood vessel

growth that feeds the tumours.

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 An intravenous infusion of bevacizumab costs up to $6,000 per dose. It is commonly used

to treat colorectal and lung cancers, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

The researchers explain that NF2 is a hereditary tumour condition that progresses to

deafness because of the vestibular schwannoma tumours that grow on the nerves for

hearing. Additionally, these tumours produce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

and can also cause brain stem compression and balance problems.

Bevacizumab decreases the VEGF levels so these can no longer promote blood vessel

growth that feeds the tumours, thus preventing some cancers.

Researchers found thirty-six percent of subjects experienced hearing improvement.

Some experienced high blood pressure, bruising and bleeding but none suffered from

further hearing loss.

From Australia Network, http://www.australianetworknews.com/anticancer-drug-restores-hearing-patients/ 

New CEO for Deaf Children Australia

Olympian decathlete Dean Barton-Smith AM has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of

Deaf Children Australia.

Dean represented Australia at the 1990 and 1994 CommonwealthGames and the 1992 Olympic Games in the Decathlon (Athletics) -

recognised as the first deaf Australian to achieve such a feat in his

chosen event. He is also a four time Deaflympian (including multiple

world record holder and medallist) and was appointed Australian

Deaflympic Team Captain (Male) for the 2005 Melbourne Deaflympic

Games.

In 2013, Dean was honoured with the Member of Order of Australia award for services to

athletics and the community and for advancing sport and recreational opportunities for deafand hard of hearing people.

 “My experiences and my life journey have taught me a lot. It is my goal to ensure that any

child who is deaf or hard of hearing does not experience any barriers to life, including

education," Dean Barton-Smith said.

"I share a common vision with Deaf Children Australia, which is aligned with my personal

values. We need to ensure that we understand the challenges that children, young people

and adults experience in those different life phases."

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Emerging and accomplished women leaders in the health sector are advised that the

National Industry Scholarship grant Initiative that has supported the development of

women leaders since 2010 has been reinstated for the period commencing July 1st 2015

though to December 31st 2016.

Women managers/leaders within the health sector are eligible to apply for scholarship

grants at two levels.

    $12,000 individual grants for senior executive-level women to undertake the

 Advanced Leadership Program

    $4,500 individual grants for emerging and mid-level managers to undertake the

 Accelerated Leadership Performance Program

Download the expression of interest form:

http://sable.madmimi.com/click?id=2715.4446.1196.1.b3785870721c5e0011a8940731f6c5ae 

Know someone who might like to receive One in

Six?To subscribe, drop us a line to info@deafnessforum.org.au 

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