Our People Their Journey

At Australian Hearing we don't just offer jobs, we offer rewarding and worthwhile careers. Find out from our dedicated staff why it's great to be a part of the Australian Hearing team:

Gemma Cooper, Audiologist
April Chong, Audiologist recipient of Graduate of the Year Award
Rebecca Allnutt, Area Manager
Marc's story, Area Manager
Terry's story, Audiometrist & former Technician

Gemma's story

As an audiologist, having a hearing loss helps me to empathise with clients. I really enjoy finding out about clients' lives and why they have made an appointment. It's great when clients come back after being fitted with hearing aids and are astounded by how much their life has changed. They are amazed that they can hear again and take pleasure in all the sounds they've forgotten - birds singing, the indicator in the car, even the toilet flushing! It really is such a rewarding and positive job.

I was diagnosed with a hearing loss when I was ten months old. Mum took me to the local doctor because I wasn't responding to noises like slamming doors and hands clapping behind me. The cause of my hearing loss has never been confirmed.

At 12 months old I was fitted with hearing aids by Australian Hearing in Adelaide. I can't imagine that I'd be where I am today without the support and commitment of the audiologists at Australian Hearing. When I was at university, I thought I'd like to do the same for other people and pass on my experience and knowledge with living with a hearing loss. I wanted to give back to the company that had helped me so much growing up.

April's story

I had done a Science degree at Melbourne Uni and I wanted a career pathway related to health care because I liked working with people. One of my good friends is an Audiologist from Australian Hearing in Dandenong and she arranged for me to sit in with her at her centre. I was there for the whole day and that was it. I knew that I was going to be an Audiologist.

The most interesting aspect of my job is that I have a variety of workload ranging from seeing adult clients, children, as well as being able to utilise my language skills (Cantonese and Mandarin) to see Chinese clients and do marketing i.e. conduct talks and screenings at local community groups/clubs and be involved in Telscreen 3, newspapers and radio interviews. It's wonderful to be able to make an impact especially on the local Chinese community and help reduce barriers of entry as well as increasing hearing awareness.

It's also nice to be recognised with the Graduate of The Year award for my contribution to our centre and organisation. It makes my job all the more rewarding and satisfying and it spurs me to give my utmost best in every role I undertake.

Being involved in the whole rehab process is wonderful. You educate clients about the hearing aids, and offer more tactics and strategies they can adopt aside from hearing aids, to communicate better with people. The rehab classes have been good, not only for clients, but their partners and family members as well. We cover the process of hearing loss, communication strategies; we educate and inform family members, so that they know what the clients are going through. The majority have been very pleased and it gives you a lot of job satisfaction.

I hope to specialise in the area of paediatrics, because I have a heart for children. With modern technology and early intervention, you can do a lot for kids born with a hearing impairment so that they are not at a disadvantage compared to normal hearing kids.

Rebecca's story

Rebecca Allnutt has made a difference to hundreds of lives by improving hearing health outcomes for people, particularly children, in the Northern Territory. She has championed health, nutrition and the basic message to keep ears clean and healthy.

"All of my clients are so special, but the most incredible thing happens when you fit a bone conductor hearing aid to a child", said Rebecca."The look of joy and amazement on their faces, because they can hear so clearly, always sends shivers up my spine!"

Rebecca knew from age seven that she wanted to work with people who had a hearing impairment. She became hooked on audiology after visiting the Speech and Hearing Department while doing her BA at University of Queensland in 1994.

"Being an Indigenous person myself, I feel that I need to try and help my people anyway I can," said Rebecca. "Sometimes the travel and being away from home so much is a challenge, but I love the variety. I get to meet the most amazing people and hear their stories, as well as see fantastic countryside," she added.

Rebecca has built close relationships with Elders in the community and networks with local health and medical services. Rebecca commenced work with Australian Hearing Cairns before moving to Alice Springs in June 2000.

Manager of Australian Hearing Alice Springs for the past eight years, Rebecca initiated monthly visits to more than 20 remote sites around the Northern Territory; providing both hearing health education and audiological services in Indigenous communities. In recognition of her contribution to Indigenous hearing health, Rebecca was recently awarded a Public Service Medal.

Marc's Story

Commencing with Australian Hearing in 1994, Marc Vandenberg has worked as a general clinician, a Paediatric and Adult Specialist and a Manager. In addition to community presentations, research, marketing, training, clinical visits to aged care facilities and school visits to hearing impaired units; Marc has experienced a wide variety of roles with Australian Hearing.

"Australian Hearing provides a fantastic opportunity to experience so many different facets of audiology, as well as travel, learn and work with people from one to 100, and with a diverse range of hearing devices and technologies. My advice is to make the most of these opportunities!" said Marc.

Marc has worked in Indigenous communities and provided tailored services to culturally and linguistically diverse clients and groups. He has also travelled and experienced different aspects of Australia during his working life.

Marc 'fell' into audiology after completing a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and loved that audiology had a clear focus and direction. "Getting great clinical results and having a happy client or family are among the most rewarding things about the job," he said.

Terry's story

I started as a technician. I was on long service leave from the Navy and I was actually considering returning but I saw an advertisement in the paper and I applied for the job.

I became a Regional Technical Coordinator and then in 2004 I felt it was time for a change. I felt I could be of more use and benefit to the clients if I could manage their entire hearing health care program, not just one aspect of it. I am a people person and spending eight hours a day with your head attached to a microscope was starting to have an effect on me. I guess you could say I got the seven year itch. When the audiometry course was introduced, I thought, this is the job for me.

'It's good to have the technical background though; I think it makes me a better clinician. 'I normally see about a dozen clients a day for a variety of appointments. Having a hearing loss and working as a clinician fitting hearing aids can be positive. I have immediate rapport with the clients. Many clients have said to me, "You have a hearing aid; you know what it's like to live with a hearing impairment". The other advantage is that I understand a new aid feature better than someone who can't trial a hearing aid simply because I can experience it first hand. This is helpful in understanding new technology and passing it on to my clients with greater confidence.

'In this job you get to meet a diverse range of people, some with amazing life stories to tell. Not long ago, I tested a client who was a survivor from the landing at Dunkirk in France and that same day I tested an elderly German gentleman who told me he was forced into Hitler's youth army and was fighting the Russians in Berlin when it fell to the allies. Our clients have helped shape Australia's history and I really enjoy hearing their life stories.'