14April 2016

National Deafness Sector Summit

The 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 girls ear and chanting a prayer.

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.

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 professional
career.
Since 1999, the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration series has raised awareness of important issues
relating to hearing loss and deafness. In 2016 it is a key-note address at the National Deafness
Sector 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 support
them.
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 PM
Where: 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 Disability

Conference initiative, and the Australian Hearing Hub for providing the meeting place.
Learn more and register to attend here

www.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 receives
financial support from The Deaf Society, Oticon Australia, Ai-media, SHHH (Self-Help for Hard of
Hearing People), Hearing Life, Conexu Foundation, Audiology Australia, Western Hearing Services,
AudioClinic, Cochlear Ltd, Adelaide Digital Hearing Solutions, Victorian Hearing.

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 peoples
journeys to better hearing. Technology has come a long way
since Professor Graeme Clarks 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 hasnt looked
back 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 second
cochlear implant and Im very much looking forward to
hearing sounds through my right ear and no longer having to
adjust my position accordingly, said Jessica.
Dont 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? Youre 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.

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 ear
and 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

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 dont 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 Cochlears 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/

SYDNEY DEAF
RUGBY LEAGUE
1966-2016

SDRLFC50

SDRLFC50

Sydney Deaf Rugby League

Football Club is hosting our

SPECIAL 50 YEARS
CELEBRATION LUNCHEON
on Saturday 29 October 2016
from 11.00am to 5.00pm
at Bankstown Sports Club
8 Greenfield Parade
Bankstown, NSW 2200
Major Event too good to be missed!

* Event Ticketing via Eventbrite: *

https://deafrugbyleagueparty.eventbrite.com.au

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 contestability
introduced 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-sectorsummit-libby-harricks-memorial-oration-tickets-21284949858

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 work
with 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

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.

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 Commonwealth
Games 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 deaf
and 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."

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

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