A Macquarie University initiative, the Australian Hearing Hub (AHH) was established in 2013 with the aim of improving the lives of those living with hearing loss. The project was funded with $40 million from the Federal Government’s Education Investment Fund (EIF), together with an $80 million investment from the University.
Located on the University’s Wallumattagal Campus, the Hub remains a globally unique partnership uniting academic, industry, government and not‑for-profit partners. As well as Macquarie University, AHH members include Cochlear Limited, the Federal Government’s hearing services program Hearing Australia and its research arm National Acoustic Laboratories, and not-for-profit specialists NextSense, and The Shepherd Centre.
Speaking at the Hub, Minister Butler said: “There is no better example in Australia, or in the health sector, of something that offers this depth and breadth of services, education, clinical care and research commercialisation.
“I recall visiting 10 years ago when this project first began. To now be visiting 10 years later, and to see the sophistication that has developed, it's wonderful.”
United for hearing: From left, Professor Greg Leigh AO, Director of NextSense Institute and Conjoint Professor of Education at Macquarie University; Member for Bennelong, Jerome Laxale MP; the Hon Mark Butler MP; and Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor S Bruce Dowton are joined by Hearing Hub patient Sofia Spillane and her mother, Michelle.
Globally, at least one billion people are directly affected by hearing loss, while four million Australians – one in six – live with some form of hearing loss. That number is expected to rise to one in four by 2050.
Since its inception, the AHH has delivered impactful research, designed and influenced healthcare policy, and trained and supported clinicians, practitioners and technologists around the world to deliver life-changing interventions for all forms of hearing impairment and communication disorders.
The strength of the collaboration is further evidenced by all AHH members undertaking a formal agreement with Google Australia earlier this year to establish the Australian Future Hearing Initiative. The hyper-personalisation of hearing devices is just one of the exciting projects already underway as part of this partnership.
Macquarie University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Sakkie Pretorius said that across its lifespan, the Australian Hearing Hub has continued to epitomise the University’s ethos.
“Macquarie University is a university of service and engagement, and the Australian Hearing Hub exemplifies these two qualities,” he said.
“In 2013, after careful planning and construction, this community came together and demonstrated how to collaborate on research innovation, education and practice.
“Macquarie University’s expertise in key disciplines, such as hearing, languages, cognitive science, psychology and education are the critical foundations on which this partnership is built.
“I am excited about what this collaboration can deliver in the next decade.”
Vital public health initiatives currently underway at the AHH include the Aboriginal Children’s Hearing Health Project, which aims to develop culturally safe ways to address the high prevalence of middle ear disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; and the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Expert Working Group, launched in partnership with the Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee and aimed at sharing expertise with countries aspiring to establish similar programs.
As well as learning more about such programs, Minister Butler’s visit included a tour of the state-of-the-art campus facilities, including the Hub’s anechoic chamber – a purpose-built room in which sound is completely absorbed.
The Minister’s visit comes just days after the AHH was named the Best Knowledge Exchange Initiative at the Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia (KCA) Awards 2023.
