5August2015

We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects 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.

Hearing Awareness Week

Throughout the nation during Hearing Awareness Week, volunteers will hold events in cities and in the bush; in schools, hospitals, remote communities, libraries and aged care facilities; in government offices and businesses ranging from the local GP to banks and mining companies.

NDIS board shakeup The Government has moved to shakeup the Board that oversees the $20 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme by replacing members with heavyweights from the corporate sector.

National practice standards for audiology The aim of the standards is to reflect nationally agreed practice expectations of those in the hearing services sector.

Australians at the helm of World Federation of the Deaf Colin Allen from NSW has been elected for a further term as the president of the international non-governmental organisation, World Federation of the Deaf. The Youth Section appointed Australias Shirley Liu to its board.

Live captioning: let's talk Join a range of citizen, industry and government stakeholders in a citizen conversation series on live captioning.

Future of Hearing Services in Australia Development of National Practice Standards for Audiology The Office of Hearing Services has engaged Australian Healthcare Associates (AHA) to facilitate the development of national practice standards in Audiology. The process is supported by an Audiology Expert Reference Group. Deafness Forum of Australia is a member of the Expert Reference Group. The aim of the standards is to reflect nationally agreed practice expectations of those working in the hearing services sector. The standards will

Be applicable to all professions involved in hearing services in Australia Encompass all client populations and practitioner types Be up to date, evidence based and relevant to the needs of all key stakeholders in

the hearing services sector including clients, practitioners, families, carers and funders

Be endorsed and owned by the hearing sector Be measurable by third parties if required.

While the Office of Hearing Services has instigated the development of the national practice standards, the standards will reflect agreed standards of practice beyond the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Consequently the standards will not be owned by the Office of Hearing Services or any professional body, but are intended for the hearing services industry as a whole. The Audiology Expert Reference Group had its first meeting on 30 July. Members of Deafness Forum will be consulted once the draft standards are developed and are at the point of needing broader input.

Hearing services and the NDIS The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a significant reform initiative which has the potential to benefit thousands of people with permanent hearing loss, providing access to a greater range of services. By 2019-20 when the NDIS reaches national roll-out, Australians under 65 years of age who have permanent hearing loss (impacting on their ability to communicate or socially interact) will be eligible for services under the NDIS. It is expected that this will include the transition of most of the Community Service Obligations clients and a portion of voucher clients under the age of 65 from the Hearing Services Program (the program) to the NDIS. Similarly, there is the potential for people between the ages of 26 and 65 years with permanent hearing loss, who are generally ineligible for services under the program, to be able to access supports through the NDIS. To help identify and discuss the key activities and steps to support a successful transition to the NDIS, including options for implementation, the Office of Hearing Services is conducting a series of workshops throughout August and September 2015. Individuals, service providers and/or stakeholder organisations (a maximum of 2 representatives) are invited to participate in one of the following workshops.

City Location Date Time Facilities Close of registrations Sydney Sydney Masonic

Centre 66 Goulburn Street

Thursday 20 August 2015

9:30am to 12:30pm

Auslan interpreter and loop

10 August 2015

Brisbane Hotel Grand Chancellor 23 Leichhardt Street Brisbane

Friday 28 August 2015

9:30am to 12:30pm

18 August 2015

Melbourne Mercure Treasury Gardens 13 Spring Street Melbourne

Thursday 10 September 2015

9:30am to 12:30pm

18 August 2015

Perth Crowne Plaza Perth 54 Terrace Road Perth

Friday 11 September 2015

9:30am to 12:30pm

18 August 2015

Registration to attend a workshop If you would like to attend a NDIS transition planning workshop, please complete a registration from available at the OHS website at http://hearingservices.gov.au Pre reading material will be sent to participants and is also available on request from Deafness Forum of Australia.

NDIS board shakeup By Xavier Smerdon, Pro Bono News http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news The Abbott Government has moved to shakeup the Board that oversees the $20 billion National Disability Insurance Scheme by replacing members with heavyweights from the corporate sector. Reports surfaced this week that Assistant Social Services Minister, Senator Mitch Fifield, was looking to replace members of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Board, which oversees the delivery of the NDIS, with people who have worked at ASX50 Companies. The Board is currently made up of stalwarts from the Not for Profit sector including NDIS architect Bruce Bonyhady and former Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council, Rhonda Galbally. A spokesperson for Senator Fifield, told Pro Bono Australia News that the Senator had written to the State Disability Ministers seeking agreement to commence the process of appointing new NDIA Board members. As we move to the next stage of implementation of the NDIS the transition to full scheme the NDIA will require a Board with a highly specialised skill set to effectively manage a rapid increase in participants, from 30,000 to 460,000 over three years, and administer a $22 billion insurance-based scheme, Senator Fifields spokesperson said. It is understood Senator Fifield commissioned corporate advisory firm Korda Mentha to review the skills and experience required by the NDIS board as it transitions to a full scheme. The current terms for the NDIA Board members will expire on 30 June 2016. It was also reported this week that the Government would attempt to force the States to give up some of their control of the NDIS. Shadow Minister for Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin, said Fifield was undermining the principles on which the NDIS was built. The Abbott Government is preparing to replace the board of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, sidelining the states and people with disability in favour of big business. As the NDIS begins transitioning to full scheme, this latest move will only serve to undermine certainty at a time when continuity is key, Macklin said.

Hearing is precious and fragile

Sunday 23 Saturday 29 August 2015

Hearing Awareness Week

Australian Hearing Hub Open House

Saturday 22 August

12pm 4pm(Doors open 11.45am)

Free hearing screening tests for adults and children (limited spaces)Learn about hearing health from industry leaders

Free jumping castle and other fun activities for childrenParticipate in research activities: adults and kids

Experience the amazing anechoic chamberDemonstrations on laser micromachining

To register or find out more visit www.hearinghub.edu.au

Founded by

One in four Australians could experience hearing loss by 2050, so its never been more important to focus on hearing health.

To celebrate Hearing Awareness Week, were opening our doors to raise awareness on healthy hearing and the services available at the Australian Hearing Hub.

Come to our Open House day and learn from some of the countrys best researchers and service providers in hearing, psychology, reading, speech and language.

Hearing Bus is coming to town

The Australian Hearing bus is stopping by locations throughout Adelaide SA to offer free hearing checks during national Hearing Awareness Week in the last week of August. The mobile hearing service has provided over 35,000 free hearing checks in communities across Australia since 2009. Community Hearing advisor Melissa Haynes at Australian Hearing in Modbury said A hearing check is a quick and easy way to measure the sounds you can and cant hear. Our team will also be on hand to guide you through what next steps you may have to take in regards to your hearing.

Visitors to the bus can find information on a range of common hearing issues and view a display of hearing devices for around the home such as headsets for watching the TV and alert systems for doorbells.

Australian Hearing Centre - Domain Building, Grenfell Street Adelaide, 25 August Bunnings Munno Para - 27 August, 9am-4pm Bunnings Parafield - 28 & 29 August, 9am-4pm

10:00am to 3:30pm Wednesday 26 August 2015

Olympus Room Hellenic Club, Phillip ACT

Hearing Awareness Week ACT EXPO 2015

The 2015 EXPO draws attention to issues and concerns of the Deaf and hearing impaired. It hosts an exciting program of speakers and exhibitions. It is a once in a year opportunity for the hearing-impaired and Deaf communities and the organisations that provide their services to meet in the one place. Join in, and help us celebrate the diversity of our community.

Australians at the helm of World Federation of the Deaf

Colin Allen from NSW has been elected for a further term as the president of the international non-governmental organisation, World Federation of the Deaf. It acts as a peak body for national associations of Deaf people, with a focus on Deaf people who use sign language and their family and friends. The World Federation of the Deaf aims to promote the human rights of Deaf people worldwide, by working closely with the United Nations and various UN agencies such as the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organisation. Colin Allen was re-elected during the recent World Congress of World Federation of the Deaf in Turkey. World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section appointed Australias Shirley Liu (third from left) to its board. Shirley is based in Sydney studying for a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) and specialising in graphic design and photography. The new Board Members represent Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uganda, Australia and New Zealand.

Made possible through the support of the Australian Children's Trust and Disability Services Commission, this website was established to ensure that individuals living with a combination of vision and hearing impairments, their families and support members, professionals and service providers, have an accessible, web-based resource available to them. http://www.deafblindinformation.org.au/

Live captioning: let's talk Captioning gives deaf and hearing-impaired citizens access to television programs. But live captioning comes with its challenges, so what is the most effective and sustainable way to caption live or part-live programs? Join a range of citizen, industry and government stakeholders as the ACMA hosts the latest Citizen conversation series on live captioning. This free event will feature a hearing loop, Auslan interpreters and captioners. Tuesday 15 September 2015, 9.00 am 3.30 pm (registration opens at 8.30 am). ACMA Sydney office: Level 5, The Bay Centre, 65 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont Space is limited, so register now to secure your place. This event will be filmed. Access the registration form: http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/About/Events/Citizen-Conversations-Series/live-captioning-lets-talk-register

Father drives across Australia for centre that restored sons hearing

Caroline Hufnagl and Angus Graham with their sons Angus and Avery. Baby Angus was born profoundly deaf and has received Cochlear implants. The family is now on a mission to support others going through the same thing. BABBLING, squealing and mimicking his dad, little Angus would have sounded like any other baby. The difference is the six-month-old was hearing his own voice for the first time. It was music to the ears of Angus Graham senior and Caroline Hufnagl as they watched audiologists fiddle with their sons cochlear implant early in June. They slowly introduced sound to him as they adjusted the volume, Ms Hufnagl said. He kind of stopped and looped up in awe, because he realised sound was coming out of his own mouth. It was pretty special. Angus junior had been born profoundly deaf, meaning he couldnt hear anything at all. Angus Graham is trekking across from Perth to Australia in his big red bus to raise money for the childrens hearing Shepherd Centre.

Hearing impairments are the most common disability diagnosed at birth in Australia. About 90 per cent of those are born to parents with normal hearing. But because their other son Avery, 3, had also been a quiet baby, Mr Graham and Ms Hufnagl hadnt realised anything was out of the ordinary until doctors at the Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick came to them with the bad news. About a month after he was born we found out that he was deaf and there was no way he would ever hear unless an implant worked it was quite terrifying to be honest because you never really expect anything to be wrong with your baby, Ms Hufnagl said. Thankfully surgeons found his cochlear nerve intact. In April they operated in order to install an implant. Caroline Hufnagl and Angus Graham with their sons Angus and Avery. Baby Angus was born profoundly deaf and has received Cochlear implants. The family are now on a mission to support others going through the same thing. The Maroubra family was referred to Newtowns internationally renowned Shepherd centre, specialising in childrens hearing loss. With baby Angus permanently delighted by the sound of his own squeals, Mr Graham concocted a way to help other families facing the same situation. The 33-year-old mobile cafe owner climbed into his recent purchase, a red double decker bus, and started a nine day across Australia to Sydney on a mission to raise money for the not-for-profit centre. Know someone who might like to receive One in Six? Send an email to info@deafnessforum.org.au Deafness Forum encourages organisations to be deafness friendly. In planning meetings and events, choose venues that have reliable hearing loops, and add real time captions and interpreters to meet the communication access needs of the 4 million Australians we represent. Items in Deafness Forum communications may incorporate or summarise views, standards or recommendations of third parties or comprise material contributed by third parties. Such third party material is assembled in good faith, but does not necessarily reflect the considered views of Deafness Forum, or indicate commitment to a particular course of action. Deafness Forum makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any third party information.