Hearing Awareness Week: groundbreaking advancements in hearing health at Flinders
Australia is facing a growing hearing health challenge, with hearing loss affecting one in six Australians today and projected to impact one in four by 2050. Hearing Awareness Week (1–7 March) and World Hearing Day (3 March) serve as vital reminders of the importance of prevention, treatment, and innovation in hearing care.
Hearing loss can significantly affect communication, mental health, employment, and quality of life. Without treatment, individuals with hearing loss are twice as likely to experience falls and face challenges in their daily lives. However, advances in medical technology and dedicated healthcare professionals are helping to restore sound and independence to those affected.
Flinders Foundation is proud to support exceptional work in hearing restoration at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN), where Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists, audiologists, and researchers are transforming lives through innovative treatments, including cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids.
South Australia’s Cochlear Implant Program: a lifeline for many
For nearly four decades, the ENT surgeons at SALHN have been at the forefront of cochlear implant surgery, performing South Australia’s first adult cochlear implant back in 1986. Today, they remain the state’s only public provider of adult cochlear implants.
We recently spoke with Sarah Kirk, a Port Augusta local who received a cochlear implant earlier this year, marking a profound turning point in her journey with hearing loss.
Sarah gradually lost her hearing in her twenties, and over time, it deteriorated to the point where she had virtually no measurable hearing. Hearing aids were no longer effective, leaving her feeling isolated and without hope.
Believing there were no options left, Sarah withdrew into silence. The prospect of treatment seemed out of reach financially, until she was referred to a local specialist.
That referral ultimately led her to visiting Flinders ENT surgeon Dr MacFarlane, who placed her on the waitlist in November. Just six weeks later, Sarah underwent cochlear implant surgery at Flinders Medical Centre, forever changing her life. She shared with us her heartfelt experience of the exceptional care she received in Adelaide:
"When I first walked into Flinders Medical Centre for my appointment, I was apprehensive. Being deaf makes everyday interactions more challenging. But from the moment I arrived, everyone was so understanding and welcoming—whether it was the friendly reception team, my surgeon, or my audiologist.
When my cochlear implant was switched on, I immediately regained my hearing. I had relied on my phone’s voice-to-text feature for years, and in that instant, I turned it off. The first thing I did was ask my audiologist if she was American—because for the first time, I could hear her accent!
Returning home to Port Augusta, I took time to adjust to the world of sound again. I found myself pausing at my front door, simply listening—the birds, the passing cars, the wind rustling through the trees.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have received such outstanding care at Flinders. From the doctors to the audiologists to the reception staff, every person I encountered was compassionate, patient, and supportive. I am truly grateful."
Introducing South Australia's first ENT Otology Nurse Practitioner
To address the growing demand for ear health services, SALHN has introduced an ENT Otology Nurse Practitioner—the first of its kind in South Australia. This new role, filled by experienced ENT nurse Bronny Hindley-Cooke, will enhance patient care by providing advanced clinical support, coordinating cochlear implant and bone conduction device patients, and improving access to ear procedures in clinic settings.
This milestone follows the successful implementation of SA’s first Head and Neck Cancer Nurse Practitioner in 2016, which has significantly improved patient outcomes.
Supporting a future of sound
Flinders Foundation is the essential link that connects life-changing research, medical innovation and healthcare providers with the community. We fund vital research, technology, and healthcare services to ensure nothing stands in the way of everyone being able to experience exceptional care, including those affected by hearing loss.
Support exceptional care at Flinders
Flinders Foundation is the vital link that empowers healthcare providers, medical researchers, and the community to enable exceptional care without limits.
By creating the environment, resources, and opportunities for groundbreaking medical advancements and exemplary patient care, we ensure that every contribution makes life-changing outcomes for all possible.
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Flinders Foundation acknowledges the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Flinders precinct was established. We acknowledge the Kaurna people’s deep and ongoing connection to land, waters and community, and pay our respect to their Elders, past and present.
