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NO TIME TO WASTE: LET’S CLOSE THE LAG FROM HEARING LOSS TO HEARING AID ACCESS Media Release for Hearing Awareness Week 2026 starting 1 March National research released today has found that70% of all hearing aid owners think they should have gotten them sooner. The research conducted by Anovum GmBH[1]  confirms most Australians who wear a hearing aid take 4-6 years between becoming aware of the hearing loss and obtaining a hearing aid. “There is much in this research for policy makers and providers to reflect and act upon,” says Donna Edman, CEO of the Hearing Care Industry Association. “The…

Appointment of Donna Edman as new Chief Executive Officer 16 October 2025 Today the Hearing Care Industry Association announced the appointment of Donna Edman as its new Chief Executive Officer. Donna brings an extensive track-record of success advocating for hearing and health sector businesses and industry associations.   “I am honoured to be appointed CEO of HCIA. HCIA plays a central role in facilitating access to world-class hearing healthcare, improving the lives of many hundreds of thousands of hearing-impaired Australians. HCIA members and the professionals they employ across the country are integral to the care economy and the quest for…

02 March 2022 HCIA calls for a government funded awareness and education campaign to support survey findings Hearing loss in Australia is a relatively common condition that affects approximately one in seven people in Australia. The recently released AustraliaTrak 2021 survey on hearing loss and the use of hearing devices found that 14.2% of adult Australians think they are living with hearing loss. Chair of the Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA) Mr Ashley Wilson AM stated, ”Hearing loss imposes a significant reduction on an individual’s wellbeing and the social and economic contribution of that individual. Deloitte Access Economic estimated that loss in…

New Independent Chair for HCIA 20 November 2025 Today the Hearing Care Industry Association announced the appointment of Nina Quinn as its first Independent Chair.  She is well positioned to lead HCIA. Nina has served as an HCIA member since 2008 and was appointed to the Board as an independent Director from 1 July 2021.  As a qualified audiologist, Nina has worked for Government providers, industry manufacturers and served as the Managing Director, Neurosensory (2008-2024). Nina was the audiologist representative on the OHNS Clinical Committee as part of the Medicare Taskforce (2018-2023), has been an Audiology Australia federal councillor, and has…

3 March 2020 Government can boost workforce by expanding hearing services program to low income earners (Canberra) More than 8000 people could return to the workforce if financially vulnerable1 Australians had access to the national Hearing Services Program (HSP), according to the Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA). To help raise awareness of hearing health and impairment this World Hearing Day and during Hearing Awareness Week HCIA commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to update the 2017 social and economic costs of hearing loss and calculate a new eligibility for the HSP for vulnerable Australians. The resulting 2020 HCIA Hearing for Life report found that the number of Australians with hearing loss is…

2 September 2019 Hearing the call for action Australia’s peak hearing health sector organisations are joining forces to represent the hearing health sector to government.  With an ageing population, hearing loss is predicted to increase to a staggering one in every four Australians by 2050. The Hearing Health Sector Alliance has been formed to work with governments to help improve outcomes for Australians affected by hearing loss and other debilitating ear conditions. It follows the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) recent endorsement of the first Hearing Health Roadmap aimed at improving the lives of the millions of Australians affected by…

8 March 2019 HCIA welcomes the first hearing health roadmap HCIA welcomes the first ever national Hearing Health Roadmap endorsed today by all COAG Health Ministers. “HCIA applauds the creation of a Roadmap to chart a concerted set of actions for all stakeholders to advance the hearing health of Australians. In particular, we would like to thank Minister Wyatt for his championship and the contributions of stakeholders from across the hearing health sector and Department of Health,” HCIA Chairman, Mr Ashley Wilson AM said. “HCIA members take pride in how they provide client care to thousands of hearing impaired Australians…

8 February 2019 Hearing businesses are well regulated “HCIA members operate professional hearing health care clinics across Australia and are subject to substantial regulations relating to the devices they provide, the way in which they are prescribed, the health professionals they employ and the services they deliver. Australian consumer law is part of the industry’s regulatory framework to which all members must comply,” said HCIA Chairman, Mr Ashley Wilson. “HCIA members take pride in how they provide client care which is reflected in a complaint rate of less than one per cent, one of the lowest of any health-related service…

15 August 2018 Hearing inquiry listens – now is the opportunity for government to act HCIA welcomes the Australian Government’s response to the parliamentary inquiry into Hearing Health and Wellbeing and its report, Still Waiting to be Heard. In its submission to the inquiry (#30), HCIA made a number of suggestions to improve hearing services in Australia which include: HCIA will continue to pursue these and other opportunities through its participation on the Government’s newly established Hearing Sector Committee, charged with developing the first ever Hearing Health Roadmap for Australia – a work program for government that gives hearing health greater…

14 September 2017 Hearing inquiry listens – now is the opportunity for government to act The Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA) welcomes the Report from the parliamentary Inquiry into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia. Entitled, “Still waiting to be heard…”, the report was tabled today by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport. “HCIA has long-championed several recommendations contained in this Report, and we commend the Committee, particularly its Chair, Mr Trent Zimmerman MP and co-Chair, Mr Steve Georganas MP for their excellent work, informed by the economic analysis HCIA commissioned from Deloitte…