New Board appointment and new program for vulnerable Australians
17 January 2025
Hearing Australia today announced the appointment of Professor Scott Avery to its Board and the establishment of a new program to improve vulnerable Australians’ access to hearing services.
In 2023-24 Hearing Australia helped almost a quarter of a million clients across Australia, achieving satisfaction rates of 87 per cent. Each week, we provide services to over 10,000 infants, young children, adults, First Nations peoples, pensioners and veterans.
Professor Avery has been appointed to the Board by the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services. He is a professor of Indigenous disability health and wellbeing in the School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney. He is an Aboriginal man descendant from the Worimi people and profoundly deaf.
“I’m excited about the skills and experience Dr Scott will bring to the Board. Dr Scott’s qualifications and lived experience with the challenges of hearing loss will enable him to make a significant contribution to Hearing Australia’s work,” said Minister Shorten.
Hearing Australia Chair Elizabeth Crouch, AM, also welcomed Dr Scott’s appointment.
“Dr Scott’s connections with First Nations communities, along with those of Board Director Professor Currie, will add great depth to the Board’s work and its focus on improving the ear and hearing health of First Nations peoples.”
On 1 July 2025 Hearing Australia will also launch a small but important program to support vulnerable Australians with hearing loss and other high priority community hearing initiatives.
The program will build on Hearing Australia’s partnership with the Salvation Army, launched by Minister Shorten in October 2023, to provide access to hearing care at the Salvos Magpie Nest Café in Melbourne to help homeless and vulnerable people in need.
"The establishment of this program will see Hearing Australia invest revenue generated from its commercial operations back into the community and build on its 78-year legacy of changing the lives of millions of children and adults with hearing loss,” said Elizabeth.
Hearing Australia will announce more details about the program in the coming months.
