Media release

Monday 16 February 2015

Hearing impaired and Deaf children will suffer if

Government privatises Australian Hearing
The Australian Government is considering the privatisation of Australian Hearing.
Australia Hearing has been the sole provider of hearing services for hearing impaired and deaf children
since 1947. There are approximately 20,000 hearing impaired and Deaf children and young adults who
access services at Australian Hearings national network of service locations. The clients range in age from
birth to 26 years. Some have multiple disabilities. 11% are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Community advocate organisations warn that the privatisation of this Government agency would have a
significant impact on the lives of hearing impaired and deaf children and their families.
Ann Porter AM, founder and chief executive of Aussie Deaf Kids, said: Australian Hearing offers services
to hard of hearing and deaf children in Australia, regardless of location and socio-economic background.
Australian Hearing gives them access to high quality technology that optimises their ability to listen and, in
turn, to learn.
The sale of Australian Hearing would put outcomes for Australian children with hearing loss at risk and
could impact on the entire health, education and disability infrastructure that supports them and their
families, Ms Porter said.
Parents of Deaf Children believes a sale could see children fall through the gaps and limit availability of
services.
Parents of Deaf Children Coordinator Kate Kennedy said, If a new owner was to withdraw services,
especially in rural and remote areas, it would have a devastating impact for Australian children with hearing
loss.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are at risk if the asset is sold. The Indigenous outreach
service through which Australian Hearing provides culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities in urban, rural and remote areas is placed at risk by the proposed sale.
Deafness Forum of Australia believes that moving to a commercial arrangement introduces a high degree
of uncertainty for very vulnerable people.
There is no guarantee there will be providers willing to take on this highly complex work, or they may not
have the expertise needed, leaving clients with the greatest need without a reliable service, said Deafness
Forum chairman David Brady.

Children With Disability Australia said that a decision on the future of Australian Hearing should not only be
about the financial benefit that may be realised from the sale of a Government asset.
Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Gotlib said: The decision must be considered in the context of the
impact it will have on the lives of highly vulnerable hearing impaired and deaf children and their families and
carers.

INTERVIEW CONTACTS

Ann Porter AM
ann.porter@aussiedeafkids.org.au
02 6684 2571, 0419 495 032
http://www.aussiedeafkids.org.au

Kate Kennedy
info@podc.org.,au
02 9871 3049, 0419 628 829
www.podc.org.au

Steve Williamson
info@deafnessforum.org.au
02 62627808
www.deafnessforum.org.au

Stephanie Gotlib
info@cda.org.au
03 9482 1130
www.cda.org.au