Submission 48 — First Voice (Attachment 1) — The provision of hearing services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) | External submission

2016 annual report Early intervention programs to assist children with hearing loss develop spoken language.

1 PRELUDE 3

Hearing services are being reshaped under the NDIS 3 Early childhood hearing loss in Australia and New Zealand 4

2 OVERVIEW 6

Our organisation and members 6 Our vision and mission 7

3 YEAR IN REVIEW 8

Message from the Chair 8 Performance highlights against priorities 10 Annual highlights 12

4 CENTRE AND FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS 16

Cora Barclay Centre 16

Hear and Say 18 Taralye 20 Telethon Speech & Hearing 22

The Hearing House 24

The Shepherd Centre 26

5 RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS 28

Research projects 28 Conference presentations 32 Published research and other papers 35

6 GOVERNANCE 38

Board of Directors 38 Leadership and support roles 40 Summary of financial performance 40 Organisation and resource structure 41

7 OTHER 42

PRELUDE

NDIS BRINGS ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES TO THE

DELIVERY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD HEARING SERVICES

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the most significant social policy reform in Australia since Medicare. It has the potential to bring about major change to the delivery of early intervention services to children with hearing loss across Australia.

While the scheme offers significant advances to people with disabilities, its service and funding framework is proving to be a “more difficult fit” within the childhood hearing services sector.

While we support and uphold the key principles of the NDIS, there is widespread concern in our sector that hearing-impaired children may be worse off under the NDIS.

We are currently working with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), government representatives, service providers and peak bodies to ensure the needs of children with hearing loss are not negatively impacted by these changes.

With the full scheme now in operation across Australia, we are concerned at the number of key policy matters relating to childhood hearing loss that remain unresolved. These relate to eligibility, scope of services, duration of services, funding, interface issues with health and education, referral arrangements, quality assurance, professional credentialing and more.

Timing is critical in the management of childhood hearing loss. Failure to deliver an adequately funded and seamless process from screening to completion of early intervention will leave children with hearing loss at a substantial disadvantage.

Properly managed and resourced, children who have a permanent hearing loss or are profoundly deaf have enormous potential to develop fluent oral communication, attend mainstream schools, secure and maintain employment and participate in and contribute fully to society.

We must ensure that the key principles of Australia’s world leading hearing services system – early diagnosis, timely referral and amplification, and access to adequately funded service pathways – are fully supported and fully integrated into a “good fit” public policy operating framework, and not diluted or compromised in any way.

Failure to do so would create systemic and life-long disadvantage to generations of children with hearing loss and their families, and set Australia’s highly developed and internationally-renowned hearing services sector back many years.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD HEARING LOSS IN

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

INCIDENCE AND CAUSE OF PERMANENT HEARING LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE EARLY

LOSS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS

Hearing loss is identified in about one in 1,000 newborns. In Australia and New Zealand, listening and spoken language In most cases there are no known risk factors. By the time early intervention programs are typically provided through a child is ready to start school, the rate of hearing loss has multi-disciplinary teams comprising a range of specialist increased to about one in 300 children. This increase can be health and educational professionals including:

attributed to a range of factors including (1) failure to detect         •   certified auditory-verbal therapists

at birth; (2) progressive hearing loss in either or both ears;           •   teachers of the deaf

or (3) trauma, infections and childhood diseases such as                                                                               •  speech pathologists

meningitis.

paediatric audiologists THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD • psychologists

HEARING LOSS • child and family counsellors

Unless remediated early, childhood hearing loss impacts • social workers

directly on communication, literacy, learning, social and • occupational therapists

emotional development, educational attainment and future • specialist kindergarten professionals

employment options. • youth workers

For children who are born with or acquire a permanent Many listening and spoken language programs are provided hearing loss in the first years of life, early diagnosis and in conjunction with a cochlear implant program, in which intervention are critical to optimal development. Speech, case the team will also include cochlear implant surgeons, language and cognitive development are substantially paediatricians and other medical and health personnel. impaired without the necessary auditory stimulus from the child’s environment to the brain. These programs are evidenced-based, family-centred and reflect early childhood early intervention best practice. BEST PRACTICE FOR CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES Listening and spoken language programs have the singular CHOOSE SPOKEN LANGUAGE purpose of assisting children with permanent hearing loss to A child with hearing loss is at significant risk of developing learn to listen and speak. This approach helps a child achieve a significant communication disability. However this can be cognitive development, effective spoken communication, effectively minimised if the child is: improved social participation, optimal schooling outcomes

•   quickly and accurately diagnosed                         and post-schooling educational and employment options

•   effectively fitted with appropriate assistive hearing            comparable to children with typical hearing.

devices (eg hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone While children who are deaf or have a hearing loss will anchored hearing aids) and carry this condition throughout life - and be limited in their

•   enrolled in a specialist early intervention service                     ability to hear in noisy and other challenging environments

– optimal early intervention and follow-up will enable them If this pathway is complete within 6 months (from the to participate fully and effectively in the hearing world, emergence of the hearing loss through to enrolment in a facilitating life-long social and economic independence. specialist early intervention service), then the child has a very good chance of developing age-appropriate language/ communication and social skills, despite their hearing loss.

Children with permanent hearing loss can develop spoken language skills on par with their typcially-hearing peers.

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OVERVIEW

Our organisation and members hearing loss sector, advocating for world-class early intervention services for children who are deaf or hearing First Voice is the regional voice for member organisations impaired. We work with government and other organisations that provide listening and spoken language early intervention to influence public policy and clinical practice related to services for children who are deaf or hearing-impaired. services for children who are deaf and hearing-impaired. Our member organisations include some of the largest, Our member organisations maintain an active research oldest and most respected centres providing services for agenda and work with research institutions to conduct childhood hearing loss in Australia and New Zealand. These hearing research relevant to young people with hearing include: loss. First Voice is committed to providing evidence-based

•  Cora Barclay Centre, South Australia                           research to inform and influence public health policy in our

•  Hear and Say, Queensland                                       region.

Taralye, Victoria First Voice members provide early intervention services to

• Telethon Speech & Hearing, Western Australia more than 1,000 children living with deafness or hearing

• The Hearing House, New Zealand loss in Australia and New Zealand. This is one of the largest

• The Shepherd Centre, New South Wales and Australian cohorts of children receiving early intervention services

Capital Territory for hearing loss in the world. Our members operate on a multi-disciplinary team model with a strong focus on family centred practice. First Voice plays a leadership role within the early childhood

1   Telethon& HearingSpeech                           2                                                                                                                        Western Australia

2 HearQueenslandand Say

1                                                                                      The Shepherd Centre                                               3 New South Wales

and Australian                     5                                                                                                                                                   Capital Territory

3              4  TaralyeVictoria

6                    Cora Barclay Centre                                               5  South Australia

The Hearing House                        4                                            6 New Zealand

Our vision and mission OUR PURPOSE Our purpose is to ensure that every hearing-impaired child andFirst Voice champions the right of all deaf people to listen and their family in Australia and New Zealand have access to what speak. they need to achieve the spoken language of which they are capable.

OUR MISSION

First Voice advocates for world-class early intervention services It is First Voice’s mission to: that give children the listening and spoken language skills

•   raise awareness of early childhood deafness and the urgency        necessary to achieve mainstream education, employment of

of early intervention for hearing-impaired children choice and social integration within the hearing world.

promote universal newborn hearing screening and KEY PRINCIPLES the implementation of adequately funded and timely management pathways The following six principles are integral to children achieving the spoken language of which they are capable:
pursue national fundraising opportunities for listening and
1. early identification spoken language services and related research

access to assistive technologies

advocate for equitable and timely access to evidence-based

family support and education early intervention services and mainstream inclusion for
1. transition to mainstream education children who are deaf
evidence-based therapies
universal access to diagnosis, assessment and treatment, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, rural and multi-cultural communities. Key focus areas Our purpose, key principles and key focus area are summarised below:

First voice’s purpose: every hearing impaired child and their family in Australia and New Zealand have access to what they need to achieve the spoken language of which they are capable

Underpinned by

Access to            Famiy              Transition to           Evidence-           universal access:                  Early

assistive           support and         mainstream            based                    especially in               identification

technologies          education            education             therapies               indigenous, rural

and multicultural communities

Governments believe in and support the six key principles

Public understanding shifted Professional understanding shifted

Evidence-based research and debate in the deafness community

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Message from the Chair I was honoured to take on the role of Chair of First Voice in October 2015, being handed the baton from outgoing Chair Therese Kelly. On behalf of my fellow board members I would like to thank Therese for her leadership and commitment to First Voice over her 18-month term as Chair.

The past 12 months have been a significant and transformative period in the hearing services sector. The roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and a potential sale or change of ownership of Australian Hearing both have the potential to significantly reshape how hearing services are delivered to young Australians with hearing loss.

First Voice has largely focused its attention and efforts over the past 12 months on these issues. We continue to advocate for a hearing services environment that is evidence-based, protects and maintains the integrity of our current world-leading practices and optimises life outcomes of infants, children and young people with hearing loss.

Over the past 12 months we have worked at the most senior level with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to represent the needs of children with hearing loss within the scheme. First Voice members have been active participants on the NDIA’s expert reference panel on hearing loss, and provided expert advice and input to officers of the NDIA responsible for developing the service and funding arrangements that will govern the operation of the scheme.

At the time of preparing this report, we have major concerns about how the needs of children with hearing loss will be served within the NDIS. Despite the massive financial investment in the new scheme, there is a potential for children with hearing loss to be worse off under the NDIS than under their current arrangements. We are engaged in urgent discussions with the NDIA, government There is potential for children

representatives and industry stakeholders about these     with hearing loss to be                                  issues and concerns.         worse off under the NDIS.                      First Voice is committed to providing independent research

and evidence that continues to demonstrate the value and cost benefit of hearing impaired children having the communication skills needed to participate fully in the listening and spoken language world. To that end, we have

commissioned a number of new studies and projects, and built a strong coalition of stakeholders that are committed to these outcomes.

As an adjunct to this work, we have also refocused and relaunched a new collaborative research effort in 2015/2016 – seeking and developing partnerships with major research institutions in Australia and New Zealand that have a special interest in hearing loss and related topics.

We are pleased to provide a summary of our activities and achievements over the past financial year in the following pages.

None of this activity or effort would have been possible without the financial and other support we receive from our members and partners that enable our work. We remain grateful for the ongoing support of Cochlear Limited, which helps us fund key support roles, and other partners and supporters who provide pro-bono goods and services to our projects and activities.

We are also indebted to our members, which continue to provide financial contributions and countless hours of effort from their teams to further our mission and cause.

While we maintain a regional profile and program of work, we continue to operate from a small financial base. Our audited financial accounts have been circulated, and these report a year ending surplus of $30k, down from $88k in the preceding financial year period due to new projects initiated over the past year.

On behalf of outgoing Chair Therese Kelly and myself, I am pleased to report on our activity and achievements over the 2015/2016 financial year in the report that follows. First Voice welcomes the challenges in the year ahead, and we will continue to be a strong and vocal advocate of the needs of children and young people with hearing loss as the industry continues to evolve and transform.

Michael Forwood, Chair

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PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS AGAINST PRIORITIES

PRIORITY AREAS        PRIORITY 1                    PRIORITY 2                  PRIORITY 3

Strategic goals          Advocate for the inclusion         Ensure quality, access and       Advocate on broader

of best practice policies for         choice is maintained for all        public policy issues

children with hearing loss within     families in a market place          relating to childhood

the NDIS                        undergoing structural change     hearing loss

Activities and              • Met regularly with NDIS           • Submitted a proposal to        • Through our members,

achievements during         senior policy makers to            the Review into the Service       maintained advocacy

2015/2016                 advocate for the inclusion of        Delivery Framework for the     on issues relating to

best practice, evidence based      Hearing Services Program       Medicare claiming for

guidelines for the delivery         [Voucher Scheme]              audiology and hearing

of services to children with loss

Liaised with the Office hearing loss under the NDIS of Hearing Services over • Endorsed and became

• Continued to prepare and the referral pathway for formal members of

submit papers to the NDIS children with hearing loss Deafness Forum’s

based on evidence based National Break

• Commissioned research                                          research and international                                         the Sound Barrier

into different service                                         best practices for children                                   Campaign

provider models (eg multi- with hearing loss disciplinary versus sole • Met regularly with

• Continued to provide               practice providers)                federal and state

advocacy and input to the parliamentarians to

• Commissioned a cost                                 NDIA hearing loss expert                                          provide advice on

benefit analysis into                                          reference panel                                                        issues and policies

the benefit of children affecting children with

• Created a coalition of               receiving listening and                                                                                                            hearing loss in the

stakeholders who share a          spoken language early                                                                                                                      region.

common purpose in the intervention services preservation of Australia’s

Maintained engagement best practice hearing services with all parties involved environment for children. in the potential sale or transfer of Australian Hearing.

PRIORITY 4 PRIORITY 5 PRIORITY 6 & 7 PRIORITY 8 & 9

Conduct and disseminate      Change the perception of      Grow our funding base and      Build long term value and

evidence-based research       what is possible for children     provide support to member    engagement with members,

on listening and spoken         with hearing loss             and affiliated organisations      partners and supporters

language outcomes

• Developed a list of            • Held our third highly          • Reviewed operating           • Met in Canberra in August 2015

research topics of interest       successful Power of            arrangements of our          and reviewed and updated our

to First Voice members        Speech Awards in              research and clinical             strategic plan

Canberra in August 2015 advisory committees to

• Approached research                                                                          • Strengthened relationships with                                                              provide better outcomes

organisations and             • Held our annual Loud                                     key stakeholders in relation to                                                      and support to members

universities to                     Shirt Day in October                               common issues throughout the

explore joint research           2015, supported by public     • Maintained an active            year

opportunities                     relations and digital           program of clinical

• Held our annual Colloquium in                               marketing campaigns           collaboration across

• Advanced the collection                                                                  February 2016, which included                                 across the region           member organisations,

and consolidation of                                                                a key stakeholder forum in                                                                  standardising assessment

clinical outcome data         • Continued to make                                      Sydney                                                                     protocols, discussing

across the First Voice representations to

common issues and           • Partnered and supported  member network             government and other

fostering clinical               the efforts of overseas based                                 stakeholders on all

• Commenced a study                                             collaboration and learning        listening and spoken language                                matters relating to early

into the education and                                                                           organisations                                childhood deafness           • Continued the

career outcomes of

collaboration of business      • Liaised at a state level with all  school leavers and adult       • Commenced a review and

managers across member      major supporters and suppliers  graduates from First           upgrade of the First Voice

organisations to share and      associated with Loud Shirt Day  Voice member centres          website.                                                                      foster improved business

Continued to collaborate• Commissioned a cost practice across member with funding partners and benefit analysis of the organisations

supporters, providing updates long term benefit of

Maintained our practice of on major projects and areas of providing listening and First Voice members seed mutual interest. spoken language to funding all new projects children with hearing loss. on an as-need basis.

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ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Shaping policy through advocacy First Voice continues to advocate for children with and collaboration hearing loss across a broad range of issues While we have focused our efforts on the NDIS during We are working with the NDIS to advocate for the 2015/2016, we have also continued to advocate for the needs of children with hearing loss needs of children with hearing loss across a range of other As previously outlined, the NDIS continues to be an ongoing issues. We have undertaken advocacy in relation to the area of advocacy for First Voice. Our members continue sale or transfer of ownership of Australian Hearing; we to provide advice to the NDIA’s expert reference panel in have had input through our members to the review of relation to hearing loss, in addition to input and advocacy Medicare claiming for audiology and hearing loss; and we to the team responsible for services to children with hearing have submitted a response to the Review into the Service loss. We recognise that this is a large and complex scheme Delivery Framework for the Hearing Services Program – to implement and administer, however the NDIS is proving to Voucher Scheme. We continue to meet regularly with federal be a “difficult fit” with the childhood hearing services sector. and state parliamentarians to provide advice on issues and We are currently working with the NDIA to minimise any policies affecting children with hearing loss in the region. unintended impacts of the scheme on children with hearing loss. Creating knowledge and insight through research and studies

We have created a coalition of stakeholders around                                        We have commissioned an independent review of          the NDIS                                                                      service provider models

Over the past 12 months, First Voice has sought to As we expect structural changes in the marketplace under strengthen its relationships with stakeholders within the the NDIS, First Voice has commissioned an independent sector who are united in their concern or advocacy of review of the effectiveness of different service provider children with hearing loss in relation to the NDIS. We are models, focusing primarily on a multi-disciplinary service currently working in collaboration with service provider model compared with sole practices. The purpose of the groups (working across listening and spoken language literature review, which is being conducted by Deloitte and Auslan modalities), consumer/parent groups and peak Access Economics, is to gather information from reputable bodies to bring a collective and united position to public worldwide sources on the communication, education, policy makers. We also continue to meet and consult broadly social, employment and wellbeing outcomes of deaf and with our stakeholders and industry colleagues and build hearing-impaired children participating in early intervention understanding and consensus over a range of issues relating programs. This report will be completed by late 2016. to childhood hearing loss. We have also commissioned a second report – a cost benefit First Voice proudly supports the national Break the analysis – to further examine the economic and social aspects Sound Barrier campaign of the First Voice model of listening and spoken language First Voice is a strong supporter of the national Break the early intervention for children who are deaf or hearing Sound Barrier campaign, which aims to put hearing health impaired and the resulting life outcomes. This is a follow on and wellbeing on the national political agenda. The campaign, study from an earlier cost benefit analysis conducted for First which launched with a series of advocacy activities in early Voice in 2011. This report should also be completed in late 2016, is uniting people who are living with hearing loss or ear/ 2016. balance disorders, service providers and health professionals. We welcome the opportunity to lend our support to this We continue to collect and analyse outcome data important campaign and to raise the profile of the needs of (known as Sound Outcomes) people with hearing loss in our community. First Voice member centres continue to collect listening and spoken language outcome data from children enrolled in their

early intervention programs. This data is consolidated into one of the largest collections of data on deaf and hearing-impaired children enrolled in early intervention services in the world. First Voice analyses and releases a report on its member centres’ collective outcome data on an annual basis. This data allows our members to track and measure the listening and spoken language outcomes of children receiving early intervention services and continue to review and improve their programs and services. We have focused this year on the continued improvement of our internal processes and our ongoing quality assurance.

First Voice plans School Leaver Study

While First Voice member centres have extensive data on the progress of hearing-impaired children prior to the commencement of primary school, we have less detailed information on their progress and life experiences during their secondary school education and beyond. To fill that gap, First Voice is seeking to gain a better understanding of the social, educational and employment outcomes of children who received early intervention therapy from First Voice member centres and who have now finished school. This project will be completed in late 2016.

We have reviewed and updated our approach to collaborative research

Our Research Advisory Committee oversees research

undertaken by First Voice. The committee has reviewed its approach to research this year, seeking research collaborations and partnerships with research institutions and universities that have a special interest in hearing loss and related areas. To that end, the Research Advisory Committee has compiled a list of research questions of interest to First Voice and its member organisations and is inviting expressions of interest in collaborative research – accessing our large clinical dataset of children across Australia and New Zealand – from relevant organisations. We are currently in discussion with a range of potential research collaborators and expect to finalise our research program later in 2016.

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Power of Speech showcases the          remarkable spoken language skills             of children with hearing loss.              Raising awareness and

celebrating achievement Our young stars shine at the

Power of Speech Awards

Our third annual Power of Speech Awards was held in Canberra in August 2015. Twelve lucky children from Australia and New Zealand had the opportunity to speak to the nation’s leaders at a special event held at Parliament House. Sponsored by Cochlear Ltd, the event is an incredible showcase of what can be achieved by deaf and hearing-impaired children across the region.

All entrants presented a speech on a topic of their choice, showing off their confidence, speech and language skills, many on par with their hearing peers. Their skills had been honed through early intervention support and therapy provided by First Voice member centres across Australia and New Zealand.

Queensland’s Cale Gravagna, 7, and Western

Australia’s Jacob Jay, 12, were named the 2015 Power of Speech Inspiration Award winners.

Nine-year-old Cynthia Castaneda from

Victoria was presented with the First Voice Courage Award. Our special guest speaker was the Federal Member for Reid, Mr Craig Laundy MP, who spoke about his own family’s experience with hearing loss.

The event aims to challenge common perceptions about what deaf children can achieve, while celebrating the remarkable outcomes possible for children who receive cochlear implants and listening and spoken language early intervention therapy through the First Voice member network.

Australia and New Zealand get even louder Australia and New Zealand both celebrate Loud Shirt Day – giving schools, businesses and individuals the opportunity to support centres providing listening and spoken language services to deaf and hearing impaired children irrespective of where they live and work.

The Australian Loud Shirt Day was

held in October 2015, with more than 1,000 schools, workplaces and families holding loud and colourful events across Australia. More than $300,000 was raised to support children who are deaf and hearing impaired across Australia. The New Zealand Loud Shirt Day was held slightly earlier, in September 2015, and it too achieved incredible support and success.

We’d like to thank everyone who continues to support deaf children through their participation in Loud Shirt Day, and take our loud hats off to the hard working marketing and communication teams in all of our member centres who throw themselves so whole heartedly into creating amazing events for our supporters and friends each year.

All First Voice member centres receive only a portion of their funding from state and federal governments, and rely heavily on corporate and community support and fundraising to raise the funds necessary to deliver intensive therapy services to those families that need them.

More than 1,000 schools, workplaces and families supported Australia,s Loud Shirt Day in 2015.

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CENTRE & FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

New horizons for Cora Barclay Centre

This year marks the 70th anniversary of Cora Barclay Centre and its antecedent, the South Australian Oral School & Kindergarten. We have a remarkable, pioneering history. It is a story of the absolute dedication of families and staff working together to achieve the best possible communication, education, and life outcomes for South Australian children who are deaf or hearing impaired. We are looking to the future – or new horizons - in this our 70th year. “New horizons” conveys our commitment to doing the utmost possible for every child who is hearing-impaired receiving our services, as well as looking beyond to the potential adoption of new services, technologies and opportunities within the political and funding environment in which we operate. Seventy years ago it was very difficult for a deaf child to learn to speak. Children were diagnosed late (2-3 years of age); hearing aids were primitive; and the science of teaching deaf children to talk was in its infancy. Deaf children learnt to sign to communicate, attended special schools for the deaf, and faced huge lifelong challenges and barriers in education, employment and social inclusion. Seventy years on - thanks to earlier diagnosis, advances in technology, and radical developments in early intervention - children attending our centre routinely achieve levels of speech, language and comprehension comparable to children with normal hearing of the same age. The vast majority of the students we support complete Year 12 and go on to further education. Notable highlights in 2015/2016 include:

Providing another year of outstanding outcomes for children in early intervention and student services. All six of our school leavers successfully completed Year 12.
The construction and commissioning of our new Westfield SA Resource Centre, which houses all of our books, aids, toys and other teaching and associated resources.
A further continuance of our relationship with Westfield SA to build an extension to our building at North Adelaide to house the burgeoning growth of student services.
The continuation of a strong and positive relationship with the NDIA both locally and nationally as together we address unresolved issues in relation to eligibility, duration and scope of services under the NDIS, interfaces with health and education and other state-based services and funding arrangements.

Bethany,s Story

— a graduate of Cora Barclay Centre Travelling the world and pursuing a career in media communications At 15 months of age, I was diagnosed as being profoundly deaf. It was hard for my parents, who were told I’d have to learn to sign, go to a school far away, and become a part of a community they knew nothing about.

But my life changed when I started at the Cora Barclay Centre. My parents were told the centre could help me to speak. I was fitted with hearing aids and started intensive auditory-verbal therapy.

I was two years old when my hearing was re-tested and the little hearing I had had deteriorated even further. More than a year later, I was implanted with a cochlear implant.

To this day I still remember running outside and hearing things I had never heard before. The sprinkler was pointed out to me, the birds flew above, the clock was ticking and the pram with my younger brother in it was rolling along the path.

I finished high school in 2011 at the top of my class in four of five of my final year subjects. I achieved an ATAR in the 90s, and a merit for my research project on Australian Children’s magazines. I started my Bachelor Degree in Media, with a major in journalism in 2012.

In 2013, I studied abroad for a semester in California, USA. In 2014, I received a scholarship to travel to Japan to study media. I did not know a word of Japanese, but that did not stop me from having an incredible time.

I finished my Bachelor’s degree in 2014, juggling three part time jobs. I completed internships at the ABC, Radio Adelaide and Total Girl Magazine.

In 2015, I was accepted into RMIT’s media communication honours program in Melbourne. To this day, no one knows about my hearing loss unless I tell them. I know I face different challenges but I am proud of what I have already achieved, and know I will go on to achieve more.

I am so grateful to my parents, the Cora Barclay Centre, my family, my churches and my schools. Because of them, I have the ability to live a wonderful and adventurous life. I wake up every day excited of what it will bring. The day isn’t started until my cochlear implant is on!

Cora Barclay Centre graduate Bethany

I still remember running outside and hearing things I had never heard before.

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Hear and Say is increasing its reach and impact across Queensland

‘Think hearing first’ has become a new catch cry for the team at Hear and Say. This message has been gathering pace as the team seek to educate and inform the general public and health professionals on the critical importance of ensuring that children can hear and be heard.

Key to this communication is incorporating hearing checks as a part of parents’ ‘Back to School’ routine. World Hearing Day on March 3 was marked by the rollout of Hear and Say’s School Hearing Screening Program. The program provided an opportunity to advocate for universal hearing screening for all school-aged children. More than 6,000 students have been screened in Queensland in 2015/2016.

Our work with children with hearing loss and their families continues to provide new opportunities. This year we have seen an increased number of children and young teens with unilateral hearing loss receiving cochlear implants.

Our expertise in the field of human bionics was recognised by the Queensland Government through its Advance Queensland grant, which provided funds to support an alliance between Hear and Say and the Queensland University of Technology. The first stage of this project will focus on the printing and bio fabrication of 3D ears for children with Microtia.

Hear and Say has worked closely with other First Voice member centres in preparing for the transition to the NDIS, which rolled out in Queensland in July 2016. A working group has sourced information, developed resources, and educated staff, families, GPs and health professionals as a part of the planning phase.

Hear and Say has supported First Voice and the Deafness Forum in advocating to ‘Break the Sound Barrier’ as a part of the recent federal election and continues to support the six point plan with Hear and Say specifically advocating for:

hearing checks for all Australian children at key stages of life
a national hearing awareness promotion campaign
ensuring children do not fall through the gaps with changes to the way hearing devices and services are delivered. From little things, big things grow: we were thrilled to have two of our Hear and Say mums fill gaps in the market. Mum Heidi published her first children’s picture book titled ‘The Cochlear Kids: Liam the Superhero’ and another parent Alana launched ‘Listen Lids’, a swim cap for cochlear implant retention during water play.

Katie,s Story

— a graduate of Hear and Say Katie’s dream of working in fashion is that much closer to reality Katie first came to Hear and Say when she was just 14 months old, initially relying on hearing aids. Hear and Say Founder Dimity Dornan recalls that Katie was a bubbly and energetic little girl with the cutest crop of blonde curls.

Katie received her first cochlear implant at four years of age and her second when she was 12. As they say in storybooks, the rest is history, even the curls it would seem.

We asked Katie to share a little about where she is now.

“I am currently in my final year studying a Bachelor of Creative Industries majoring in fashion and journalism at QUT,” she said.

“Over the past few years, I have been lucky to have some great opportunities to explore my career, with work experience placements at magazines Shop Til You Drop and Dolly in Sydney. I have recently completed an internship at Style Magazine working with the digital team in Brisbane and even had a few articles published.

“These experiences have fuelled my desire to work in fashion even more than I thought possible.

“I am incredibly excited to have found out recently that I was one of just 32 students accepted to be a part of the QUT ‘New York Creative Cities’ study tour as part of my degree. It will see me go to New York, a city I have dreamt of going to for years, in November this year. I will get the chance to explore the city’s museums, landmarks and of course, the fashion.

“There are so many things I want to do and see, including travelling around the world and building up a career in the fashion industry. This freedom to choose what I want to do would not be possible without Hear and Say, its incredible team and the wonderful people who support their work.”

Hear and Say graduate Katie

My study and work experience opportunities have fuelled my desire to work in the fashion industry.

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Delivering family-centred, evidence-based practice and monitoring childrens’ outcomes

Taralye had a positive year with achievements across the organisation. Approximately 6,500 children and their families received services, which included support for 285 children with hearing impairment. This represents an eight per cent increase in the number of children accessing our service compared to the same period last year.

During the year Taralye reviewed its strategic plan and confirmed organisational goals for 2016/2018, focusing on service accessibility, leadership and professional development for staff and financial sustainability. As part of enhancing service accessibility we have undertaken to establish a centre in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne in early 2017 and to develop our tele-practice service.

In addition we increased our service delivery within the school-age population with a total of 43 children being supported and our small group early intervention program expanded with groups being offered in Blackburn, Gowanbrae and Geelong on a regular basis.

Our preparations for the NDIS transition years continued following our participation in the scheme’s trial in the Barwon region during 2013 to 2016. We have been represented on the NDIA expert reference group for early childhood deafness and have liaised closely with the state government Department of Education and Training to ensure a seamless transition to the individualised funding model. During 2015/2016 we supported 19 children through the NDIS and we expect this number to increase progressively in line with the rollout of the NDIS in Victoria over the next three years.

This year we were proud to acknowledge significant achievements of four past students. Nine-year-old Cynthia Castaneda and eight-year-old Ethan Goktepe provided exceptional representation for Taralye at the First Voice Power of Speech event in Canberra in August. Past students Sam Greatorex and Sam McLarty have also received well-deserved recognition. Sam Greatorex was awarded the 2015 Deaf Sports Australia Male Athlete of the Year for his outstanding results in swimming, and Sam McLarty was appointed school captain of Yarra Valley Grammar.

Collated outcomes for children who graduated from our early intervention program to commence their formal school years in 2016 showed speech and language results comparable with their hearing peers. We acknowledge the collaborative work of parents and staff and the generous support of our donors and volunteers in making these outcomes possible.

Sam,s Story

— a graduate of Taralye Representing Australia in the pool and setting new records Sam was diagnosed with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and received a cochlear implant at the age of 14 months.

Mum Carmel remembers the choices they made to give Sam the best possible start. “We poured over information about what was on offer and decided to move to Melbourne to access cochlear implant support and oral language early intervention at Taralye”.

“With the compassionate help of Taralye staff, we were wonderfully supported and settled into the early intervention programs and then kindergarten where Sam grew into a very lively and full-on little boy with lots of friends”.

Sam was enrolled into Taralye’s early intervention program at 18 months old and began one-to-one therapy to develop his listening, speech and language skills. He progressed through Taralye’s group programs and kindergarten in readiness for school.

Supported by Taralye in the transition to mainstream schooling, Sam, now 17 years-old, has thrived at school and his deafness has been no barrier to reaching his dreams, one of which—representing Australia in the pool—was recently fulfilled.

“I call myself a swimmer,” said Sam. “It’s what I do, it’s who I am. It defines me even more than my deafness. Although I do sometimes call myself a ‘deaf swimmer’ in instances, such as, when I represented Australia at the Deaf World Swimming Championships in Texas last year”.

Sam holds four Australian Open records and eight Australian age records in swimming freestyle and backstroke and was recently awarded the Deaf Sports Australia’s Male Athlete of the Year title. Through his hard work and steely determination, Sam is bound to achieve his future aspirations of representing Australia at the Deaflympics in Turkey in 2017 and then at the Commonwealth Games or the Olympics.

Carmel said: “I’m sure all of the wonderful people at Taralye who taught Sam feel satisfaction that they played a part in his success as an elite swimmer and maturing young man”.

Taralye graduate Sam

I call myself a swimmer. It,s who I am. It defines me even more than my deafness.

annual report 21

A transformational year of growth, change and achievement At an organisational level, extensive work was completed across all programs and teams to meet our strategic goals for program excellence, service development, financial sustainability, and fundraising excellence. During the year Telethon Speech & Hearing opened new speech pathology and psychology clinics in Cockburn and secured a service site for early intervention hearing impaired, audiology and private specialist clinics in the southern metropolitan regions of Perth. We also opened two new outposts in Perth for students who are deaf or hearing impaired. Enrolments in this area are increasing and for the first time ever, we reached a milestone of 50 students. Our ear health program and partnership with Chevron Australia in the Pilbara continues to go from strength to strength. During the year we participated in many community events such as NAIDOC Week, Hearing Awareness Week and family fun days across both metropolitan and regional WA. Our hearing services team also delivered ENT triage using tele-health clinics for the first time. Telethon Speech & Hearing is now a registered provider of services through NDIS (also known as My Way in WA) and our teams have worked throughout the year to develop approved early intervention, trans-disciplinary program packages for eligible children and families living in trial sites. Work has also commenced on the development of school aged support packages. Other highlights for the year include:

Commencing a series of public seminars offering learning opportunities for professionals and families. Two seminars were delivered by June 2016.
Achieving publication in journal articles, dissertations, and a comprehensive resource book on best practices for ear health and hearing.
Delivering nine presentations across various forums, including a national conference, a local conference, a professional forum and a university.
Receiving accolades for two of our students, Jacob Jay and Elivia Robbins, who presented speeches at the National Power of Speech Awards at Parliament House, Canberra. Jacob Jay was the overall winner for his age group.
Receiving a commitment from Chevron Australia to continue working with TSH up to 2018.
Chairing the First Voice Research Advisory Committee. 22

Elijah,s Story

— a graduate of Telethon Speech & Hearing Enabling Elijah’s cheeky, caring and friendly personality emerge Elijah Ray began his journey at Telethon Speech & Hearing as a quiet, frustrated boy who was unable to express his needs and wants in an appropriate manner. Elijah had passed his newborn hearing screening; however, his mother Sally had become concerned about his development. Following her intuition Sally had Elijah’s hearing tested, and at the age of two years old Elijah was diagnosed with a sensorineural hearing loss. This diagnosis led the family to Telethon Speech & Hearing’s early intervention hearing impairment program.

After many tough months of Elijah becoming frustrated with his inability to express himself, which included him continuously pulling out his hearing aids and numerous middle ear infections and tonsillitis, the family and his auditory-verbal therapist had a break through. Elijah started to spontaneously put words together such as “shoe off”.

Soon his cheeky, caring, friendly personality emerged. Elijah and his family were also supported in their journey by Telethon Speech & Hearing’s program support allied health team. Elijah accessed our occupational therapists and psychologists to assist with his development and prepare him for kindy.

Over time, Elijah began to develop his independence in individual therapy sessions and in group settings. He became the “helper”, always offering his friends help when they needed support with an activity and he became able to communicate his needs and wants clearly to his friends and adults.

After two years in the early intervention hearing impairment program, Elijah flourished into a competent, adventurous, happy boy. He has now graduated from the program and commenced in Telethon Speech & Hearing’s school support program.

It was a true joy for Telethon Speech & Hearing to be a part of this journey with Elijah and his family.

Telethon Speech & Hearing graduate Elijah

Elijah became an invaluable helper, always there to support his friends when they needed it.

annual report 23

Major building underway, new adult services, and a newly launched outcomes report

The Hearing House produced its first annual outcomes report in 2015. Work on our clinical database over many years culminated in the document that provides information on the makeup of our program and outcomes for children attending mainstream school in the 2014/2015 period.

The report provides information about the number of children being referred to The Hearing House, the number receiving implants and statistics relating to deprivation, ethnicity, the number of languages being spoken or learnt, what type of school they are attending and whether or not a child has more than one disability. It also compares language scores of graduates. This information will give The Hearing House useful data to evaluate and monitor its programs, and subsequently design new services.

A highlight of this reporting period is the signing of the construction contract for our new $7.7 million facility.

As part of the redevelopment, the original building used by The Hearing House (a former vicarage) will be refurbished and an adjoining 800sqm two-storey building will be built next door. The facility will include therapy rooms, audiology booths, a sensory integration room, a home education suite and workshop and lecture spaces.

As part of the development project, we have also relocated our preschool to the rear of the property. The purpose-built facility caters for hearing impaired children as well as hearing pre-schoolers from the local community. The rebuilt and re-named Joyce Fisher Preschool opened in July 2015.

The new building will also enable us to start offering services to adults with cochlear implants thanks to a partnership with the University of Auckland. A Memorandum of Intent has been signed which will allow us to deliver cochlear implant services to 450 adult clients from October 2017. This will give The Hearing House a total of 700 clients – children, teenagers and adults.

The number of children in our program continues to increase, particularly in regards to the hearing aided therapy service.

Isla,s Story

— a graduate of The Hearing House Thriving at school and building a rich mix of hobbies and interests The Hearing House’s mission is to enable deaf or hearing-impaired children to listen and speak like their hearing peers using the principles of auditory-verbal therapy in a language-rich environment where children learn alongside their hearing parents.

The Gilby family’s story reflects this success. Isla was only two days old when she was diagnosed with hearing loss. Isla’s mum Shona said they knew there was a 25 per cent chance that Isla was deaf due to her older sibling being deaf, but it was still a daunting prospect.

Thanks to early intervention, Isla received bilateral cochlear implants at five months old. Her cochlear implants, along with help from The Hearing House, have enabled her to excel in spoken language. Isla is now seven years old and is a high achiever at school. She is achieving excellent language scores across the board since graduating from The Hearing House’s speech language and auditory-verbal therapy program.

The Hearing House has given Isla and her family the tools, support and knowledge to listen and speak with confidence. Isla does not let her deafness hold her back; she works with what she has and gives everything her all. She loves public speaking and her speech and language skills are far beyond many others in her age group. She’s also involved in the Keas (part of sea scouts), learning piano and taken up netball - further showing that the sky is the limit for Isla and other deaf kids.

“The Hearing House has been 100 per cent amazing,” says Isla’s mum Shona. “They look after children from the moment they step foot in the door and help point the family in the right direction,” she said. “They also work hard to accommodate everyone’s needs,” she said.

This is part of the specialised support The Hearing House provides, creating a nurturing environment that in turn helps children with hearing loss participate fully and excel in the hearing world.

The Hearing House graduate Isla

Isla loves public speaking and her speech and language skills are far beyond many others in her age group.

annual report 25

A new four-year plan Only 50 per cent of children aged six and under with hearing loss in NSW are receiving the specialised early intervention they need, from us or any other service provider.

We are committed to rectifying this unacceptable situation and ensuring that every child with hearing loss has the opportunity to access the specialised services needed to develop listening and spoken language to help support their development in life. Our plan for this – our vision for a ‘Sound Future’ – has been developed over the past 12 months and will be implemented over the next four years.

We have already seen a dramatic increase in the number of children that have turned to us for support. At the end of 2015, we had an increase of 50 per cent of children that graduated from our early intervention program, breaking all previous records.

Our generous supporters have enabled ongoing development of the scope and range of services that we provide. Despite the federal government ceasing to fund our tele-intervention program, we’ve supported more children in areas where they aren’t able to access a local service (such as Tasmania and regional NSW). We are thankful to our supporters that have made this possible.

We’ve also established our social skills program - ‘FICAP Confident Kids’ - one of our greatest accomplishments of 2015, which has been extended to our ‘Confident Kids in the Classroom’ program for older children.

We have seen an increase in the number of families turning to us in Western Sydney and we are seeking a new centre in the Campbelltown area to service these children. We are proceeding with plans for expansion in that area and subsequently into other regions as well.

The success of our four-year plan will be closely tied to the rollout of the NDIS. The NDIS has been rolled out in Canberra where nearly all of our children are on an NDIA approved program. In some other NDIS sites around Australia the government has not funded children with the level of support that they need. We are monitoring the situation closely in NSW.

It has been a busy year for our highly skilled clinicians who have presented at conferences around the world. This has continued to raise our profile and highlight the importance of our work, providing services and advocating on behalf of children with hearing loss and their families.

leah,s Story — a graduate of The Shepherd Centre Soon to embark on a career as a primary school teacher

Twenty-six-year-old Leah McConnell first attended The Shepherd Centre in

1992 after being diagnosed with severe-profound hearing loss. Leah received a cochlear implant at aged four, and spent her early years learning to listen and speak under the guidance of The Shepherd Centre’s speech and language therapist Dr Anne Fulcher. “Leah was very determined as a little girl,” remembers Dr Fulcher. “She was always incredibly cheeky and lots of fun. She is a great role model to other families to showcase how our children go on to achieve such great things.” Nowadays, Leah is a full time student who loves travel, going to the beach, spending time with friends and family, playing tennis and skiing. Her travels have already taken her to England, Ireland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, Bali, Fiji, New Zealand and Hawaii. Leah is now in her final year at Macquarie University where she is undertaking a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education – a role in which she hopes to make a difference to the lives of others, in the same way The Shepherd Centre had such an enormous impact on her own young life. “My experiences have taught me that it takes a community to raise a child. My parents wouldn’t have been able to do that without the support of services such as The Shepherd Centre,” said Leah. “I would strongly recommend families and health professionals get access to support services and resources as early as possible, in order to give every child the best start in life – just as I had. The dedication and positive direction given by the wonderful team at The Shepherd Centre have helped shape who I am today.” As she looks forward to graduating from University and embarking on a new career as a primary school teacher, Leah says she will use her own childhood experiences to help guide her approach to giving every child the chance to reach their fullest potential. “I believe it is important that we continue to recognise children as capable learners, regardless of their disability,” she said. “I feel that I am very much a part of the hearing world, achieving milestones in life such as completing my HSC and getting in to university – my hearing impairment has never held me back.”

The Shepherd Centre graduate Leah

I feel like I am very much part of the hearing world. My hearing impairment has never held me back.

annual report 27

RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

First Voice plays a leadership role within the early Persuasive writing outcomes in children with hearing loss childhood hearing loss sector, advocating for who received early auditory-verbal therapy. Ms Claire Zhang, Honours candidate, University of Queensland; Dr Wendy evidence-based early intervention services for Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland. children who are deaf or hearing-impaired. The literacy (NAPLAN) outcomes of children with permanent Our members maintain an active research agenda hearing loss who receive auditory-verbal therapy. Ms Emma and work with leading research institutions to Shaw, Honours candidate, University of Queensland; Dr conduct research relevant to infants, children and Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland. young people with hearing loss in our region. Microtia and atresia: Next generation prosthetic ears using advanced 3D printing and biofabrication technology First Voice is committed to providing evidence- (Futurehear). Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Dr Wendy based research to inform and influence public health Arnott, Hear and Say; Ms Emma Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; policy and clinical practice across our region. Ms Simone Cheadle, Hear and Say; Associate Professor Mia

Woodruff, Queensland University of Technology; Dr Sean

Powell, Queensland University of Technology; Ms Rena Cruz,

PhD candidate, Queensland University of Technology; Ms

Maureen Ross, Hear and Say. RESEARCH PROJECTS

Hear and Say Speech and language outcomes of an auditory-verbal therapy program for young children with hearing loss. Dr Wendy Newborn hearing screening in Queensland: Comparison of

Arnott, Hear and Say; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Ms

hearing screening and diagnostic audiological assessment

Emma Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Ms Jessica Balfour-Ogilvy,

between term and preterm infants. Mr Tom Pearson, MPhil

Hear and Say; Ms Lynda Close, Hear and Say; Prof Louise

candidate, University of Queensland; Prof David Tudehope,

Hickson, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of

University of Queensland, Mater Research Institute; Dr Wendy

Queensland.

Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland; Dr Rachel

Beswick, Healthy Hearing, Children’s Health Queensland The effectiveness of telemedicine for teaching listening and Hospital & Health Service; Dr Ristan Greer, Mater Research spoken language to children with hearing loss. Ms Emma Institute; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Dr Trent Calcutt, Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say;

University of Queensland. Mrs Jackie Brown, Hear and Say; Mrs Jane McGovern, Hear

and Say; Ms Michelle Ryan, Hear and Say; Dr Monique Waite,

Literacy development in children with cochlear implants.

Hear and Say; Dr Anne Hill, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences,

Ms Nicola Bell, PhD candidate University of Queensland; Dr

University of Queensland.

Anthony Angwin, The University of Queensland; Dr Wendy

Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland; Associate Telehealth implementation of cochlear implant mapping Professor Wayne Wilson, The University of Queensland. across the lifespan. Professor Robert Eikelboom, Ear Science

Institute; Dr Monique Waite, University of Queensland; Dr

Language impairment from infancy to adulthood. Ms Rebecca

Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Dr Anne Hill, University of

Banney, PhD candidate, University of Queensland; Dr Wendy

Queensland; Dr Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say; Ms Emma

Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland; Associate

Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Ms Karen Pedley, Attune; Ms

Professor Katie McMahon, University of Queensland; Professor

Gemma Upson, University of Western Australia; Professor

David Copland, University of Queensland; Associate Professor

Trevor Russell, University of Queensland; Professor Deborah

James Scott, University of Queensland; Professor Andrew

Theodoros, University of Queensland.

Whitehouse, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western

Australia.

Auditory brain function in children with cochlear implants – MEG study.

Distinguished Prof Stephen Crain, Macquarie University ARC Centre of

Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders; A/Prof Blake Johnson, Macquarie

University; Dr Wei He, Macquarie University; Ms Joann Tang, Macquarie

University; Ms Rebecca Gelding, Macquarie University; Mr David Meng,

Macquarie University; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say.

Going digital: Enabling caregivers to optimise the linguistic environment for children with significant hearing loss. Ms Dawn Choo, PhD candidate,

University of Melbourne and The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Dr

Shani Dettman, University of Melbourne; Prof Richard Dowell, University of

Melbourne; Prof Robert Cowan, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Dr

Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say; Emma Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Amy Russell,

Hear and Say.

Long term literacy outcomes for children who receive cochlear implants younger than 12 months. Dr Shani Dettman, University of Melbourne; Prof Robert Cowan, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre.

Improving hearing healthcare access and outcomes – paediatric stream. Professor Louise Hickson, The HEARing CRC, The University of Queensland;

Dr Monique Waite, The University of Queensland; Dr Carly Meyer, The

University of Queensland; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Ms Emma

Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Dr Nerina Scarinci, The University of

Queensland; Dr Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say; Dr Katie Ekberg, The

University of Queensland; Dr Caitlin Grenness, University of Melbourne; Prof. Robert Cowan, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre.

Longitudinal outcomes of children with hearing impairment (LOCHI

study). Dr Teresa Ching, National Acoustic Laboratories & The

HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Associate Professor Harvey

Dillon, National Acoustic Laboratories & The HEARing Cooperative

Research Centre.

An exploration of the interaction between healthcare professionals, children and families in paediatric hearing habilitation programs. Dr Katie Ekberg, University of Queensland; Prof Louise Hickson, University of Queensland;

Dr Nerina Scarinci, University of Queensland; Dr Carly

Meyer, University of Queensland.

Predictors of language in infants with hearing

impairment (Maternal Education). Dr Teresa Ching,

National Acoustic Laboratories & The HEARing

Cooperative Research Centre; Dr Dimity

Dornan, Hear and Say; Dr Wendy Arnott,

Hear and Say.

annual report 29

Does the fitting of devices improve outcomes for children of Queensland; Dr Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say; Dr Katie with unilateral hearing loss? Dr Teresa Ching, National Ekberg, The University of Queensland; Dr Caitlin Grenness, Acoustic Laboratories & The HEARing Cooperative Research University of Melbourne; Prof. Robert Cowan, The HEARing Centre; Ms Emma Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Dr Wendy Cooperative Research Centre. Arnott, Hear and Say. Cortical evaluations of children with auditory neuropathy using the HEARLab. Dr Kirsty Gardner-Berry, National

The Shepherd Centre Acoustic Laboratories, Hearing CRC; Dr Teresa Ching,

Acquisition of plural morphology. Ben Davies PhD candidate, National Acoustic Laboratories; Dr Harvey Dillon, National Macquarie University; Prof Katherine Demuth, Macquarie Acoustic Laboratories. University Language Lab; Aleisha Davis, The Shepherd Longitudinal outcomes of children with hearing impairment

Centre/Macquarie University. (LOCHI). Dr Teresa Ching, National Acoustic Laboratories

Atypical development of theory of mind in children with & The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Associate cochlear implants. Felicity Chu, Honours student, Sydney Professor Harvey Dillon, National Acoustic Laboratories & The University; Dr Steven Cummings, Sydney University; Dr Maree HEARing Cooperative Research Centre. Doble, Sydney University; Aleisha Davis, The Shepherd Centre. Shaping social and emotional development from birth. The effect of poor theory of mind on social and pragmatic Changes in the modelling of mental state language for skills in children with hearing loss using cochlear implants. children with delayed and atypical Theory of Mind acquisition William Widjaja, Honours student, Sydney University; Dr (internal research project). Aleisha Davis, The Shepherd Steven Cummings, Sydney University; Dr Maree Doble, Centre. Sydney University; Aleisha Davis, The Shepherd Centre. Managing unilateral hearing loss in infants: Why one ear is Optimising spoken language outcomes in children with not enough (internal research project). Aleisha Davis, The hearing loss. Aleisha Davis PhD candidate, Macquarie Shepherd Centre. University; Prof Bob Cowan, Hearing CRC; Dr Elisabeth Enhancing access beyond geography: Shifting services into Harrison, Macquarie University. the virtual domain (internal research project). Aleisha Davis, Going digital: Enabling caregivers to optimise the linguistic The Shepherd Centre. environment for children with significant hearing loss. Ms ‘No discipline is an island’: Scaffolding support to maximise Dawn Choo, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne and The family engagement (internal research project). Aleisha Davis, HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Dr Shani Dettman, The Shepherd Centre.

University of Melbourne; Prof Richard Dowell, University of

Melbourne; Prof Robert Cowan, The HEARing Cooperative Listening - The Building Block for language and literacy: Research Centre; Aleisha Davis, The Shepherd Centre; Dr Changing progress, changing outcomes (internal research Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say; Emma Rushbrooke, Hear and project). Aleisha Davis, The Shepherd Centre. Say; Amy Russell, Hear and Say. Predictors of anxiety disorder symptoms in children with Telethon Speech & Hearing hearing impairment. Johanna Long, Honours student, The effect of graphical feedback on verbal interactions Macquarie University; Professor Jennie Hudson, Centre for between parents and children with hearing impairment. Emotional Health, Macquarie University; Aleisha Davis, The Dr Yuriko Kishida, Telethon Speech & Hearing/Macquarie

Shepherd Centre. University Special Education Centre, Macquarie University/

School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin Improving hearing healthcare access and outcomes – University; Dr Coral Kemp, Macquarie University Special paediatric stream. Professor Louise Hickson, The HEARing Education Centre, Macquarie University; Associate Professor CRC, The University of Queensland; Dr Monique Waite, The Cori Williams, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, University of Queensland; Dr Carly Meyer, The University

Curtin University. of Queensland; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Ms Emma

Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Dr Nerina Scarinci, The University

The evaluation of the Pilbara Ear Health Model of Care: Health Improving hearing healthcare access and outcomes – Paediatric education promotion for teachers and health professionals. Dr stream. Professor Louise Hickson et al., School of Health and Yuriko Kishida, Telethon Speech & Hearing/ School of Psychology Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. and Speech Pathology, Curtin University; Associate Professor Self-regulatory speech training for children with specific language Cori Williams, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, impairment and their typically developing peers. Dr Donna Bayliss, Curtin University; Peta Monley, Telethon Speech & Hearing; Jay School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia; Dr Krishnaswamy, Telethon Speech & Hearing; Karen Thomas, Safiyyah Abdul Aziz, School of Psychology, The University of

Telethon Speech & Hearing. Western Australia; Professor Janet Fletcher, School of Psychology,

Sight and sound: A history of deaf education in Western Australia. The University of Western Australia. Geoffrey Smith, History, Murdoch University; Professor Michael The development of babbling and communication in infants at risk Sturma, School of Arts, Murdoch University. of cerebral palsy. Dr Roslyn Ward et al., Department of Paediatric Maternal capacity for reflective functioning and developmental Rehabilitation, Princess Margaret Hospital. correlates in children aged four years. Dr Matt Ruggiero, School Enhancing the mental health and wellbeing of children with of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University; Jonathan impaired hearing. Professor Donna Cross et al., Brain and Marginis, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin Behaviour, Telethon Kids Institute. University. The incidence of middle ear disease and hearing loss in Aboriginal Hearing House and Torres Strait Islander children in the remote communities of Western Australia: 2012-2014. Julie Kim Nguyen, School of First Voice: Sound Outcomes speech and language data. First Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University; Associate Voice centres, Janet Digby, The Hearing House. Professor Cori Williams, School of Psychology and Speech First Voice: School Leavers Project. First Voice centres, Gurdeep Pathology, Curtin University; Dr Yuriko Kishida, Telethon Speech Singh, The Hearing House. & Hearing/School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University. The effect of communication mode on outcomes for children with hearing loss: A review. Dr Julia Sarant, on behalf The Hearing Middle ear disease and hearing loss in Indigenous Western House. Australian children: Analysis of ear health data: 2012 – 2014.

Vivian Lee, School of Psychology and Speech Pathology

Curtin University; Associate Professor Cori Williams, School of Taralye

Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University; Dr Yuriko Impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on Kishida, Telethon Speech & Hearing/ School of Psychology and children with hearing impairment. Dr. Andrea Simpson, College

Speech Pathology, Curtin University. of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University; Lauryn

Exploring the nurse practitioner role in Australia from the Stewart, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe perspective of employers: A qualitative study. Stacy Leidel, School University. of Nursing and Midwifery, Curtin University; Dr Ruth McConigley, The implementation of parents’ play. Prof. Karen Stagnitti,

There and back again: From research to practice in early University; Dr. Genevieve Pepin, Department of Health and Social childhood intervention. Kate Moseley, School of Education, Development, Deakin University; Rachel Smith, Department of University of Western Sydney; Associate Professor Christine Health and Social Development, Deakin University. Johnston, School of Education, University of Western Sydney. Literacy Intervention for pre-school children. Dr. Shani Dettman, An online survey of mental health, wellbeing and school University of Melbourne; Dr. Megan Gilliver, National Acoustic experiences of young people with chronic conditions in Laboratories; Sarah Draper. University of Melbourne. mainstream schools in WA. Dr Ashleigh Lin et al., Brain and Behaviour, Telethon Kids Institute.

annual report 31

CONFERENCE implant(s)presented atunderthe 14th12 months:InternationalA multi-centreConferencestudy.on PaperCochlear PRESENTATIONS Implants, Toronto, Canada. Hear and Say Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., Dornan, D. (July, 2015). Human-bionics interface frontiers: Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan, Creating bionic solutions for mankind. Paper presented at The R., & Briggs, R. (May, 2016). Long term communication University of Queensland North American Lunchtime Lecture outcomes for children who receive cochlear implants younger Series, Boston, MA, USA. than 12 months: A multi-centre study. Paper presented at

the Audiology Australia National Conference, Melbourne,

Rushbrooke, E., Arnott, W., Constantinescu, G., Davis, A., Australia. Dornan, D., & Phillips, R. (September, 2015). Sound Outcomes: A “First Voice” investigation of speech and language Rushbrooke, E. (May, 2016). Teleaudiology: Speech perception outcomes for Australian children. Paper presented at the testing via the Internet. Paper presented at the Audiology MED-EL Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Australia National Conference, Melbourne, Australia. Dornan, D. (September, 2015). Hear and Say: Global impact. Rushbrooke, E. (May, 2016). Embedding telepractice into Lecture presented to University of Queensland Speech audiological models of service delivery: Meeting stakeholders Pathology students, Brisbane, Australia. needs. Paper presented as part of the Tele-practice Round

Table at the Audiology Australia National Conference,

Rushbrooke, E., Hickson, L., Henry, B., Russell, T., Melbourne, Australia. Constantinescu, G., & Arnott, W. (November, 2015). Assessing the validity of remote MAPping for children with cochlear Arnott, W. & Wilson, W. (May, 2016). Auditory processing implants: User satisfaction and implementation. Paper disorder (APD) or developmental language disorder? The presented at the American Speech and Hearing Association role of speech language pathologists. Lecture presented (ASHA) National Convention, Denver, Colorado, USA. to University of Queensland Speech Pathology students, Brisbane, Australia. Banney, R., Arnott, W., Scott, J., McMahon, K., & Copland,

D. (November, 2015). Receptive vocabulary change from Arnott, W., Rushbrooke, E., & Davis, A. (June, 2016). Unilateral childhood to adulthood: Evidence from an Australian birth hearing loss and the impact of early amplification and cohort study. Paper presented at the American Speech and auditory-verbal therapy on speech and language outcomes. Hearing Association (ASHA) National Convention, Denver, Paper presented at the HEaring Across the Lifespan (HEAL), Colorado, USA. Cernobbio, Italy. Banney, R., Arnott, W., Scott, J., Copland, D., McMahon, K., Arnott, W., Rushbrooke, E., & Davis, A. (June, 2016). Auditory Whitehouse, A., & Khan, A. (May, 2016). Late talkers and verbal therapy: The earlier the better! Paper presented at the later language outcomes: Predicting the different language HEaring Across the Lifespan (HEAL), Cernobbio, Italy. trajectories. Paper presented at the Speech Pathology Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y.,

Australia National Conference, Perth, Australia. Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan,

Arnott, W., Rushbrooke, E., & Davis, A. (May, 2016). Children R., & Briggs, R. (June, 2016). Long term speech perception, with hearing loss, early auditory-verbal intervention, and production, language and literacy outcomes for children who speech and language outcomes. Paper presented at the received cochlear implants younger than 12 months, and who Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Perth, are now adolescents. Paper presented at the HEaring Across Australia. the Lifespan (HEAL), Cernobbio, Italy. Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., Balfour-Ogilvy, J., Rushbrooke, E., Cheadle, S., & Arnott, Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan, W. (June, 2016). Microtia and atresia: Early auditory-verbal R., & Briggs, R. (May, 2016). Speech perception, production intervention and future directions. Paper presented at the & language outcomes for children who receive cochlear HEaring Across the Lifespan (HEAL), Cernobbio, Italy.

Dornan, D., Calcutt, T., Beswick, R., & Tudehope, D. (June, 2016). Abrahams, Y., Neal, K. & Davis, A. (May, 2016). Is the glass half Comparison of hearing screening and diagnostic audiological empty or half full? The impact of early intervention for children process between term and preterm infants in Queensland. Poster with unilateral hearing loss. Paper presented at Audiology presented at the HEaring Across the Lifespan (HEAL), Cernobbio, Australia 21st National Conference 2016 Hearing for Life, Italy. Melbourne, Australia.

Balfour-Ogilvy, J., Parr, M., Rushbrooke, E., & Arnott, W. (June, Davis, A., Neal, K., Abrahams, Y. & Hopkins, T. (May, 2016). Shaping 2016). Tele-practice for every child and family: Delivering early social and emotional development for children with delayed and intervention and audiology services to families. Paper presented alternate patterns of theory of mind acquisition with hearing loss. at the 3rd International Conference on Family Centred Early Paper presented at Audiology Australia 21st National Conference Intervention for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Bad 2016 Hearing for Life, Melbourne, Australia. Ischl, Austria. Davis, A., Neal, K., Slack, D., Abrahams, Y. & Fulcher, A. (May, 2016). Brown, J., Rushbrooke, E., Balfour-Ogilvy, J., Cheadle, W., & Arnott, Partnerships to enhance access, beyond geography: Intervention,

W. (June, 2016). Early auditory-verbal intervention in atresia and communication and support in the virtual domain. Paper microtia. Paper presented at the AG Bell National Convention, presented at Audiology Australia 21st National Conference 2016 Denver, Colorado, USA. Hearing for Life, Melbourne, Australia.

Parr, M., Balfour-Ogilvy, J., Rushbrooke, E., & Arnott, W. (June, Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., 2016). Telepractice: Delivering early intervention and audiology Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan, R. & services. Paper presented at the AG Bell National Convention, Briggs. R. (May, 2016). Long term communication outcomes Denver, Colorado, USA. for children who receive cochlear implants younger than 12 months: A multi-centre study. Collaborative paper presented at

The Shepherd Centre Audiology Australia 21st National Conference 2016 Hearing for

Life, Melbourne, Australia. Baldacchino, S., Davis, A., & Neal, K. (May, 2016). The impact on communication, speech and language: Family engagement Abrahams, Y., Neal, K. & Davis, A. (May, 2016). Evaluation and measures and outcomes. Paper presented at Speech Pathology outcome measures for cochlear implantation for children with Australia National Conference, Perth, Australia. unilateral hearing loss. Paper presented at The 14th International Conference on Cochlear Implants & other Implantable Davis, A., Neal, K. & Hansen, A. (May, 2016). Listening: The building Technologies, Toronto, Canada. block for language and literacy. Changing progress, changing outcomes for children with hearing loss. Poster presented at Davis, A., Neal, K., & Abrahams, Y. (May, 2016). Enhancing access Speech Pathology Australia National Conference, Perth, Australia. beyond geography: Shifting cochlear implant services into the virtual domain. Paper presented at The 14th International Davis, A., Golab, J., & Neal, K.. (May, 2016). Shaping social and Conference on Cochlear Implants & other Implantable emotional development from birth: Changes in the modelling Technologies, Toronto, Canada. of mental state language for children with delayed and atypical theory of mind acquisition. Paper presented at Speech Pathology Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., Australia National Conference, Perth, Australia. Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan, R. & Briggs. R. (May, 2016). Long term communication outcomes Arnott, W., Rushbrooke, E. & Davis, A. (May, 2016). Children with for children who receive cochlear implants younger than 12 hearing loss, early auditory-verbal intervention, and speech and months: A multi-centre study. Collaborative paper presented at language outcomes. Collaborative paper presented at Speech The 14th International Conference on Cochlear Implants & other Pathology Australia National Conference, Perth, Australia. Implantable Technologies, Toronto, Canada. Abrahams, Y., Neal, K. & Davis, A. (May, 2016). Defining the Power Abrahams, Y., Davis, A., Neal, K., & Fulcher, A. (June, 2016). of One: Ways to provide effective support and intervention Managing unilateral hearing loss in infants: Why one ear is not for families with children with unilateral hearing impairment. enough. Poster presented at 3rd International Congress of Family Workshop presented at Audiology Australia 21st National centred Early Intervention for children who are Deaf or Hard of Conference 2016 Hearing for Life, Melbourne, Australia. Hearing, Bad Ischl, Austria.

annual report 33

Davis, A., Neal, K., Luscombe, S. & Fulcher, A. (June, 2016). ‘No Krishnaswamy, J., Monley, P., & Kishida, Y. (May 2016). Impact discipline is an island’: Scaffolding support to maximise family of education resources packs on the self-reported ear health engagement. Paper presented at 3rd International Congress knowledge of parents, teachers and health professionals in of Family-centred Early Intervention for children who are Deaf remote regions. Paper presented at the Audiology Australia

or Hard of Hearing, Bad Ischl, Austria. National Conference 2016: Hearing for Life, Melbourne,

Australia. Davis, A., Neal, K., Slack, D & Fulcher, A. (June, 2016). Partnerships to enhance access, beyond geography: Kishida, Y., & Williams, C. (May 2016). Using Language Intervention, communication and support in the virtual Environment Analysis (LENA) in auditory-verbal therapy: domain. Poster presented at 3rd International Congress of Perceptions of parents of children with hearing impairment. Family-centred Early Intervention for Children who are Deaf Paper presented at the Speech Pathology Australia National or Hard of Hearing, Bad Ischl, Austria. Conference - Making Waves, Perth, Australia.

Davis, A., Neal, K., Weller, J. & Fulcher, A. (June, 2016). Shaping Monley, P., Krishnaswamy, J., & Kishida, Y. (May 2016). social and emotional development from birth: Changes in the Localising a state program for effective service delivery: modelling of mental state language for children with delayed Pilbara ear health model of care – Collective initiatives for and atypical theory of mind acquisition. Paper presented better outcomes. Paper presented at the Audiology Australia at 3rd International Congress of Family-centred Early National Conference 2016: Hearing for Life, Melbourne, Intervention for Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Australia. Bad Ischl, Austria. Wigham, C., McNally, F., & Kishida, Y. (May 2016). Improve Arnott, W., Rushbrooke, W., Davis, A. (June, 2016). Auditory- early language learning through use of coaching strategies verbal therapy: The earlier the better! Collaborative paper with parents/caregivers. Workshop presented at the Speech presented at Hearing Across the Lifespan, Cernobbio, Lake Pathology Australia National Conference - Making Waves, Como, Italy. Perth, Australia.

Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., McNally, F., Harmsen, B., Wigham, C., & Macoun, M. (May Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan, 2016). The holistic approach in early intervention. Paper

R. & Briggs. R. (June, 2016). Speech, language and hearing presented at the National Disability Services WA Clinical and outcomes for deaf children using cochlear implants: a Allied Health Forum, Perth, Australia. prospective long term study. Collaborative paper presented Monley, P. (May 2016). An overview of Telethon Speech & at Hearing Across the Lifespan, Cernobbio, Lake Como, Italy. Hearing research and partnerships. Paper presented at the DEAP. Express: Rese, Perth, Australia.

Telethon Speech & Hearing

Krishnaswamy, J., Monley, P., & Kishida, Y. (July 2015). Cora Barclay Centre Optimising children’s specialist ear health clinic attendance Marples, C. (October 2015). Classroom acoustics and rates in rural and remote Aboriginal communities. Paper soundfield systems. Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. presented at the Aboriginal Health Conference: Healthy Families – Healthy Futures, Perth, Australia. Ward, R. (October 2015). Auditory-verbal therapy: The fundamentals. Flinders University, Audiology Department, McNally, F. (August 2015). Auditory-verbal and hearing Adelaide, Australia. impairment. A lecture presented to Curtin University Speech Pathology Students, Perth, Australia. Ward, R. (December 2015). Developing speech and language through auditory-verbal therapy. Speech Pathology McNally, F., & Kishida, Y. (May 2016). Language Environment Department. Flinders University Expo, Adelaide, South Analysis (LENA) as a therapy tool in the auditory-verbal Australia. therapy early intervention program. Paper presented at the Speech Pathology Australia National Conference - Making Aschberger, G., Capon N., Marples, C. (February 2016). Waves, Perth, Australia. Classroom strategies: High expectations for students who are deaf and hearing-impaired. Mainstream Teacher One-Day Conference, North Adelaide, Australia.

Thurling, S. (April 2016). Working collaboratively with audiologists. BOOK CHAPTERS Australian Hearing Marion, Adelaide, Australia. Rushbrooke, E. & Houston, K. T. (2015). History, Terminology, and the Advent of Teleaudiology. In E. Rushbrooke & K. T. HoustonMarples, C. & Ward, R. (May 2016) First steps to wellbeing. (Eds.). Telepractice in Audiology (pp. 1-21). San Diego, CA; PluralSupporting the social and emotional wellbeing of children who are Publishing.deaf or hard of hearing. Audiology Australia National Conference,

Melbourne, Australia. Rushbrooke, E. (2015). Models of Service Delivery: What

Should We Consider? In E. Rushbrooke & K. T. Houston (Eds.).Ward, R. (June 2016). Importance of music for the deaf or hearing Telepractice in Audiology (pp. 23-45). San Diego, CA; Pluralimpaired child. The Virtual Music Education conference 2016. Publishing.Online conference for music education. von Muralt, M., Close, L., & Houston, K. T. (2015). Telerehabilitation Taralye in Audiology. In E. Rushbrooke & K. T. Houston (Eds.). Telepractice in Audiology (pp. 153-188). San Diego, CA; Plural Publishing. Bainbridge, J. (July 2015). Make the connection: Cultivating caregiver attachment in infants with hearing loss. Presented at the Rushbrooke, E. & Atkinson, B. (2015). Potential for Telepractice in 2015 AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium, Denver, Audiology: A Review of Applications in Early Hearing Detection USA. and Intervention Programs. In E. Rushbrooke & K. T. Houston (Eds.). Telepractice in Audiology (pp184-204). San Diego, CA; Leigh, K. & Moores-Chadwick, J. (August 2015). A cross-campus Plural Publishing. programme: From assessment to intervention. Australian Association of Teachers of the Deaf conference, Melbourne, Brown, J. & Evans, C. (2015). Maximizing Professional

Australia. Development Opportunities Using Telepractice. In E. Rushbrooke

& K. T. Houston (Eds.). Telepractice in Audiology (pp. 205-229). Charlton, M. (September 2015). Development of children with San Diego, CA; Plural Publishing.

hearing impairment. Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne,

Australia. Constantinescu, G. & Dornan, D. (2015). From Research to Clinical Practice: What Should We Consider? In. E. Rushbrooke & T. Cronin, E. & Moores-Chadwick, J. (February 2016). Inclusive Houston, K. T. (Eds.). Telepractice in Audiology (pp. 231-246). San strategies for children attending preschool. Blackburn, Melbourne, Diego, CA; Plural Publishing. Australia.

Charlton, M. (March 2016). Undertaking a comprehensive PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES educational assessment – From preparation to writing the Tosh, R., Arnott, W., & Scarinci, N. (In press) Parent implemented report and providing feedback. Australian Psychological home therapy programs for speech and language: A systematic Society’s specialist College of Educational and Developmental review. International Journal of Language & Communication Psychologists, Melbourne, Australia. Disorders. Kelly, T. & Harrington-Johnson, H. (April 2016). The National Calcutt, T. L., Dornan, D., Beswick, R. & Tudehope, D. I. (In press). Disability Insurance Scheme: forum for parents and professionals. Newborn hearing screening in Queensland 2009-2011: Comparison Rosanna Golf Links School, Rosanna, Melbourne, Australia. of screening and diagnostic audiological assessments between term and preterm infants. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. PUBLISHED RESEARCH Plasmansa, A., Rushbrooke, E., Moranc, M., Spence, C., Theuwisa, AND OTHER PAPERS L.,D., Zarowskia,Hollow, R., Leigh,A., Offeciersa,J., Martelli,E., Atkinson,L., Cowane,B., R.,McGovern,Looi, V., DelJ., Dornan,Dot, J.,

Hear and Say                                                           Nelf, E., Mauger, S. (2016). Paediatric clinical evaluation of cochlear                                                                    implant users upgrading to the Nucleus® 6 system. International

BOOKS Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 83, 193–199. Rushbrooke, E., & Houston, K. T. (Eds.). (2015). Telepractice in Audiology. San Diego, CA; Plural Publishing.

annual report 35

Dettman, S., Dowell, R., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., familial risk of speech sound disorder. Dissertation, Bachelor Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constantinescu, G., Cowan, R., of Science (Speech Pathology) with Honours in the School of & Briggs, R. (2016). Long term communication outcomes for Psychology and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Bentley, children receiving cochlear implants younger than 12 months: Western Australia, Australia. A multi-centre study. Otology & Neurotology, 37(2), e82-e95. Wong, C., Ching, T., Whitfield, J., & Duncan, J. (2016). Online Constantinescu, G., Phillips, R. L., Davis, A., Dornan, D., & social participation, social capital and literacy of adolescents Hogan, A. (2015). Exploring the impact of spoken language on with hearing loss: A pilot study. Deafness & Education social inclusion for children with hearing loss in listening and International Journal, 18:2, 103-116. spoken language early intervention. The Volta Review, 115(2),

153-181. The Shepherd Centre

Telethon Speech & Hearing Dettman, S. J., Dowell, R. C., Choo, D., Arnott, W., Abrahams, Y., Davis, A., Dornan, D., Leigh, J., Constatinescu, G., Cowan, R., Lee, V. (2015). Middle ear disease and hearing loss in & Briggs, R. J. (2016). Long term communication outcomes for Indigenous Western Australian children: Analysis of ear health children receiving cochlear implants younger than 12 months: data: 2012 – 2014. Dissertation, Master of Speech Pathology, A multicenter study. Otology & Neurotology, 37(2), e82-e95. Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. Constantinescu, G., Phillips, R. L., Davis, A., Dornan, D., & Marginis, J. (2016). The effect of anxiety on the emotional Hogan, A. (2015). Exploring the impact of spoken language on match of mother-child dyads in hearing impaired children. social inclusion for children with hearing loss in listening and Dissertation, Master of Psychology (Counselling), Curtin spoken language early intervention. The Volta Review, 115(2), University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia. 153-181. Monley, P., & Krishnaswamy, J. (Eds.). (2015). Pilbara ear health model of care including Pilbara ear health and hearing Taralye best practice workforce guidelines. Telethon Speech & Moores-Chadwick, J. & Galloway, J. Transitioning from early

Hearing, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. intervention to primary school. Victorian Deaf Education

Nguyen, J. K. (2015). The incidence of middle ear disease and Institute Video, July 2015. hearing loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the remote communities of Western Australia: 2012-2014.

Dissertation, Master of Speech Pathology, Curtin University,

Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.

Saetre-Turner, M., Williams, C., & Quail, M. (2015). The quality and quantity of caregiver-child interaction in hearing impaired and normally hearing children. The Journal of Clinical Practice in Speech-Language Pathology (JCPSLP), 17, 144-150.

Skinner, E. (2015). Early speech development in infants at

Submission 48)-Attachment 1

GOVERNANCE — Board of Directors (as at 30 June 2016)

Michael Forwood BA (Hons), MA (Health Services), LLB

Chair (from October 2015) and Director, First Voice

Chief Executive Officer, Cora Barclay Centre

Experience & expertise: Michael has worked for more than 30 years in the health and disability services sector. He has been CEO and a member of the board at Cora Barclay Centre since

Michael has held senior management roles with a range of organisations, including state departments of health and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. He was elected to the NDS state committee in South Australia in 2008 and has been involved in disability policy and planning matters in SA for many years. He has been an NDS representative on the 2011 Ministerial Steering Committee reviewing the SA Disability Services Act (1993), and a member of the SA Launch Site Working Party for the introduction of the NDIS. Special responsibilities: Chair (from October 2015). First Voice representative on matters relating to NDIS.

Therese Kelly BSc (Hons) Dip Aud, M Aud SA, AAICD, CCEO Chair (to October 2015) and Director, First Voice

Chief Executive Officer, Taralye

Experience & expertise: Therese has worked within the deafness field since graduating from university and was appointed CEO of Taralye in 2004. Her professional career includes positions within a variety of public and government organisations including metropolitan and rural hospitals,

The University of Melbourne, Northern Territory Health, the National Acoustic Laboratories and

the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Therese is a Fellow of the CEO Institute, and holds memberships of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Audiological Society of Australia and Early Childhood Intervention Association (Victoria). Therese is the outgoing Chair of First Voice, and a member of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) early childhood intervention services reference group in the NDIS Barwon launch site in Victoria. Special responsibilities: Chair (to October 2015). Member, Research Advisory Committee.

Scott Johnston B Com

Deputy Chair and Director, First Voice

Chief Executive Officer and Director The Hearing House

Experience & expertise: Scott has been the CEO of The Hearing House for the past nine years. During his tenure the organisation has acquired the government contracts for paediatric cochlear implant services. This has led to significant growth in the number of children seen by The Hearing House and level of services provided to children and their families. The Hearing House is currently redeveloping its facilities and in 2017 will provide cochlear implant services to both children and adults. Prior to joining The Hearing House, Scott worked in large scale community event management and property consultancy. He is passionate about the work of The Hearing House and the outcomes that can be achieved for deaf children. Special responsibilities: Deputy Chair.

Jim Hungerford BVSc, GAICD

Director, First Voice

Chief Executive Officer, The Shepherd Centre

Experience & expertise: Appointed CEO of The Shepherd Centre in February 2011, Jim comes to the role with 30 years’ experience in health sciences. Prior to joining The Shepherd Centre, Jim held CEO positions in Australia and internationally, most recently CEO of Pareto Fundraising. Jim’s prior roles include CEO of Intervet in the United Kingdom, various senior management positions in companies in Germany and in the United States, and roles in the biotechnology sector. He is also a former private practice vet. Jim is also Chair and a director on two other not-for-profit boards.

Chris McCarthy MMgt; AssocDip Pers Admin

Director, First Voice

Chief Executive Officer, Hear and Say

Experience & expertise: Chris was appointed CEO of Hear and Say in 2012 having been with the organisation since 2007. Since his time at Hear and Say, the organisation has grown significantly and its staff now support more than 600 children who are deaf and their families. Chris oversees an expanding service network, with centres in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Cairns and Townsville and an e-health program for rural and remote families. Founded by Dr Dimity Dornan AO in 1992 and initially caring for six children, Hear and Say now boasts world leading outcomes, a research and innovation arm and a worldwide education and training group that is providing services to health professionals across the globe.

Peta Monley BA Hons (Psych), Post Grad (Audiology), Masters Health Science (Audiology)

Director, First Voice

Chief Executive Officer, Telethon Speech & Hearing

Experience & expertise: Joining the Telethon Speech & Hearing team in May 2013, Peta has an extensive background in senior management roles in audiology, occupational noise induced hearing loss, environmental conservation and academia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology, a Post Graduate Diploma in Audiology and a Master of Health Science (Audiology). Peta was the founder of iHear Australia, a successful audiological business, and was Lecturer and Clinical Coordinator for the Master of Clinical Audiology Program at the University of Western Australia. She is also a recipient of the Deafness Council WA, Dr Harry Blackmore Award – “for her major contributions to the deaf and hearing-impaired communities and those at risk of hearing impairment.” Special responsibilities: Chair, Research Advisory Committee. annual report 39

Leadership and support roles Summary of financial performance Our many achievements are due to the volunteer and other During 2015/2016, First Voice continued to operate on a committees and work groups that support our work. In small budget, resourced primarily by volunteer committees, particular, we recognise the efforts of: contributions and resources from member organisations and

•   the Research Advisory Committee that oversees our             contractors.

research planning and direction. Total income for the year was $194k, comprising income

•   the Clinical Advisory Committee that continues to lead         from grants ($100,000), merchandise ($56k), membership

the development of clinical standards and protocols fees ($27k) and other sources. across the First Voice regional network. Total expenditure for the year was $163k, with largest

•   the National Fundraising Committee that plans and            expenses associated with contractors and consultants

coordinates, with the support of fundraising teams at ($102k), advertising and promotions ($20k) and sundry each member organisation, our annual Loud Shirt Day expenses ($19k). appeal each year.

This resulted in a small net surplus of $30k for the period            •  our company secretarial and financial support services,

ended 30 June 2016. provided by Tom Barry and Heather Mitchell respectively.

•  our executive services, provided by Tamara Bruce, and      We have initiated a number of important new projects this

strategic planning and advocacy, provided by Jenny year, and all projects have been scoped and fully funded prior Donnithorne. to commencement. We are grateful to our members, who make additional contributions available from time to time to We also recognise the efforts of countless other staff and enable new projects and work to further our mission. individuals that support the work of First Voice through our member and affiliated organisations and partner Please visit our website (www.firstvoice.org.au) to view a organisations. copy of the Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2016. Organisation and resource structure The work of First Voice is supported by committees and volunteers from our member organisations. Our small support team is drawn from existing staff from member organisations and two part time contractors.

Organisation and resource structure

Cora Barclay          Hear                             Telethon Speech     The Hearing       The Shepherd

Taralye

Centre           and Say                       & Hearing          House             Centre

Company

Secretary

Research               Clinical             National          Strategy and

Executive

Advisory           Advisory          Fundraising          Marketing

Assistant

Committee        Committee        Committee          Consultant

annual report 41

OTHER

Thank you First Voice would like to thank everyone that has contributed to its activities, endeavours and achievements in 2015/2016. Thank you for your generosity, commitment and support.

In addition to our committees and staff, we would also like to thank:

COCHLEAR LIMITED – which continues to support our work. This enables us to contribute to the costs of our small operations team, which coordinates and enables our work. Cochlear is also a generous sponsor of our Power of Speech event in Canberra.

WORLDWIDE PRINTING SOLUTIONS – SOUTH BRISBANE –

our print sponsor for Loud Shirt Day, which again provided all printed materials to support our 2015 annual appeal.

CARAT – our media planning and buying agency, which continues to support our Loud Shirt Day campaign with pro-bono media space.

OUR MEMBER AND AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS –

which provide both financial contributions and countless hours of effort from their dedicated teams. In particular, Hear and Say, which provides company secretarial and finance services to First Voice, and Taralye and Cora Barclay Centre, which have supported our role of Chair during 2015/2016.

OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS – both

organisational and individuals — who support our mission in many different ways.

Your actions have enabled us to deliver the gift of sound and speech to children in our region.

Our Annual Report

FEEDBACK INVITED

Thank you for reading our First Voice Annual Report. We hope it has given you a good understanding of our activity and achievements over the 2015/2016 financial year.

Your feedback is welcome and valued and can be sent to us at contactus@firstvoice.org.au or posted to us at First Voice C/- Cora

Submission 48 — First Voice (Attachment 1) — The provision of hearing services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

CONTENTS

1 PRELUDE 3

2 OVERVIEW 6

3 YEAR IN REVIEW 8

4 CENTRE AND FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS 16

Cora Barclay Centre 16

The Hearing House 24

The Shepherd Centre 26

5 RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS 28

6 GOVERNANCE 38

7 OTHER 42

PRELUDE

NDIS BRINGS ABOUT MAJOR CHANGES TO THE

DELIVERY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD HEARING SERVICES

EARLY CHILDHOOD HEARING LOSS IN

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

INCIDENCE AND CAUSE OF PERMANENT HEARING LISTENING AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE EARLY

LOSS INTERVENTION PROGRAMS

OVERVIEW

2 HearQueenslandand Say

OUR MISSION

YEAR IN REVIEW

Michael Forwood, Chair

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS AGAINST PRIORITIES

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

First Voice plans School Leaver Study

Our Research Advisory Committee oversees research

Power of Speech Awards

Queensland’s Cale Gravagna, 7, and Western

Nine-year-old Cynthia Castaneda from

The Australian Loud Shirt Day was

CENTRE & FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS

New horizons for Cora Barclay Centre

Bethany,s Story

Cora Barclay Centre graduate Bethany

Katie,s Story

Sam,s Story

Taralye graduate Sam

Elijah,s Story

Telethon Speech & Hearing graduate Elijah

Isla,s Story

The Hearing House graduate Isla

Twenty-six-year-old Leah McConnell first attended The Shepherd Centre in

The Shepherd Centre graduate Leah

RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Woodruff, Queensland University of Technology; Dr Sean

Powell, Queensland University of Technology; Ms Rena Cruz,

PhD candidate, Queensland University of Technology; Ms

Maureen Ross, Hear and Say. RESEARCH PROJECTS

Arnott, Hear and Say; Dr Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Ms

Emma Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Ms Jessica Balfour-Ogilvy,

Hear and Say; Ms Lynda Close, Hear and Say; Prof Louise

candidate, University of Queensland; Prof David Tudehope,

Hickson, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of

University of Queensland, Mater Research Institute; Dr Wendy

Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland; Dr Rachel

University of Queensland. Mrs Jackie Brown, Hear and Say; Mrs Jane McGovern, Hear

and Say; Ms Michelle Ryan, Hear and Say; Dr Monique Waite,

Hear and Say; Dr Anne Hill, Health & Rehabilitation Sciences,

Ms Nicola Bell, PhD candidate University of Queensland; Dr

Anthony Angwin, The University of Queensland; Dr Wendy

Institute; Dr Monique Waite, University of Queensland; Dr

Dimity Dornan, Hear and Say; Dr Anne Hill, University of

Banney, PhD candidate, University of Queensland; Dr Wendy

Queensland; Dr Wendy Arnott, Hear and Say; Ms Emma

Arnott, Hear and Say/University of Queensland; Associate

Rushbrooke, Hear and Say; Ms Karen Pedley, Attune; Ms

Professor Katie McMahon, University of Queensland; Professor

Gemma Upson, University of Western Australia; Professor

David Copland, University of Queensland; Associate Professor

Trevor Russell, University of Queensland; Professor Deborah

James Scott, University of Queensland; Professor Andrew

Whitehouse, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western

Distinguished Prof Stephen Crain, Macquarie University ARC Centre of

University; Dr Wei He, Macquarie University; Ms Joann Tang, Macquarie

University; Ms Rebecca Gelding, Macquarie University; Mr David Meng,

University of Melbourne and The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Dr

Shani Dettman, University of Melbourne; Prof Richard Dowell, University of

Melbourne; Prof Robert Cowan, The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre; Dr