deafness forum of australia Annual Report 2007-2008

Improving the quality of life for Australians who are deaf, have a hearing impairment or have a chronic disorder of the ear

Table of contents Improving the quality of life

for Australians who are deaf,

have a hearing impairment

or have a chronic disorder

Highlights for 2007-08 of the ear 2

Chairperson’s report 3

Chief Executive Officer/Company Secretary’s report 6

About our organisation 7

Our Board of Directors 10

Our Staff 11

Our efforts in lobbying 14

Our representation on panels and committees 16

Our consultation and networking 18

Our participation in research 20

Our information and awareness raising activities 20

Our members 25

Our projects 27

Our financial situation 34 Highlights for 2007-08

• 2007 Captioning Awards.

• The Libby Harricks Memorial Oration, delivered by Professor Bob Cowan.

• Election campaign.

• The 5th National Deafness Sector Summit held in Canberra in May 2008.

• 2007 Hearing Awareness Week theme was “Get the message”.

• Launch of new website.

• Delivered training for telecommunications representatives, with the assistance of a grant from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

• Developed a new position statement on Communication access in airports, with significant member input.

• Two rural hearing and health expos held in Ballarat (Vic) and Bathurst (NSW).

• Lobbied for the government investigation into media access for Australians who are Deaf or have a hearing impairment.

• Contributed a number of submissions to government inquiries including a major submission on the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy. 3 Chairperson’s report

It is with great pleasure I present you We also acknowledged Margaret motion in Parliament last year on the 2008 Annual Report to highlight our Robertson and Ruth Fotheringham’s 12 September, 2007. It was an inspiration challenges and achievements. Last year, outstanding work with Deafness to watch her speak on behalf of the deaf I spoke highly about the need for passion Forum and awarded them with a Life and hearing impaired community and a to help us over hurdles and how we must membership. Thank you again, Margaret date not to forget. It was also bittersweet hold onto our commitment to ensure and Ruth. The year also welcomed to farewell Senator Stott Despoja from that changes do happen. Changes do Kirsten’s new daughter, Ingrid to the Parliament in June this year. I enjoyed not happen overnight and we need to world and of course, my son, Tobian. watching her farewell speech with acknowledge this and not give up. It has From thereon, the adventure had begun an Auslan interpreter present. We all been an amazing year, so much has as a parent, advocate and lobbyist. wish her well and hope that she comes happened and I am proud and happy to back one day to continue and be our It was exciting to see new possibilities say it has been a fulfilling rollercoaster. champion in Parliament. that lay ahead of us when Labor took But this ride is not over yet office. They have waved the ‘social While the state of affairs began to We are still here today to change inclusion’ flag to us, the people of evolve within the Parliament, we were and improve the lives of people who Australia, and declared that they also heavily involved with arranging are Deaf, hearing impaired or have a believed in this change and that we various events. Right after New Year’s, chronic disorder in the ear. There are should not exclude individuals who are the team of the Deafness Forum focused many other communities we also considered disadvantaged. Naturally, this their energy on creating two successful embrace such as the Deaf-blind and has allowed us to ring the bells to Rural Expos which was made possible indigenous community and for those make Parliament aware of our goals by the support of the National Relay who are at risk of losing their hearing and our needs. We have grabbed every Service Outreach Service. On behalf of due to noise. So you can imagine the opportunity to grasp the flag of ‘social the Deafness Forum and the board, we amount of work our wonderful team inclusion’ and use it while advocating would like to express our gratitude to in Canberra has done in the last year. and lobbying. There were a few initiatives the National Relay Service Outreach for The team and the board have worked undertaken by the Government which making the Expos possible at Ballarat, in a collaborative force to achieve we were pleased to be part of, to name Victoria and Bathurst, NSW. This is one those outcomes although needless a few – The Electronic Media Enquiry, of our goals to ensure people living to say, it is never been easy. With so National Mental Health & Disability with a hearing loss or a chronic disorder many goals, we are fortunate to have Employment Strategy Enquiry and in the ear do not feel disadvantaged welcomed Lyn Beaumont, Dr Jill Duncan ACOSS Conference (Australian Council of in where they live. It is very easy to and Roz Keenan onto the Board of Social Service). I must say that the Media forget and realise that we also have Deafness Forum at last year’s AGM. Enquiry would not have been possible a big responsibility to include and without Senator Natasha Stott Despoja’s educate those living in the remote areas of Australia. After a few months after the Expos were This Summit was not possible without These are a few shy examples of what held, we held one of the most exciting our speakers, contributors, interpreters, we do as an organisation. Not only have 5th National Deafness Sector Summit captioners and sponsors. We gratefully we advocated for access, we also have at the home of the Deafness Forum, acknowledge the generous support of advocated the urgency of protecting Canberra. Brrr, it was a chilly time but the Australian Government Department people from losing their hearing through that did not stop delegates from all of Families, Housing, Community noise such as Ipods or work related noise. over of Australia to attend the Summit. Services and Indigenous Affairs and the During Hearing Awareness Week, we We had a very exciting and unique Department of Health and Ageing (Office also saw the launch of the ‘Choosing the program that suits each sector within of Hearing Services) and other sponsors: Right Phone’ by Senator Helen Coonan. the Deafness Forum. The structure of Media Access Australia, Disability ACT, This pamphlet will be very helpful for the Summit was the life cycle where Cochlear, National Relay Service, Siemens those who want to understand and everyone got together to discuss and and National Auslan Booking Services know which phone is right for them share experiences and ideas from birth (NABS). We truly look forward to the next depending on what kind of phone they to old age. At the Summit, we were Summit which will be held in 2010. are, what kind of hearing aids they have. fortunate to have Senator Rachel Siewert After exchanging business cards and Shortly after this launch, we honoured of the Australian Greens to open the leaving the Summit with fresh ideas and and celebrated the achievement of Summit as well as The Hon. Bill Shorten insight, we have come to realise that captioning within the industry at the MP, Parliamentary Secretary for the the future is here and that we need to 2007 Captioning Awards. Unfortunately, Disability and Childrens’ Services who act now. We have built some important Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja was not launched the new National Relay Service ties with some key stakeholders such able to make it but it was a night to video. We also had Associate Professor as Media Access Australia, Human remember. Luckily, we were able to have Bob Cowan who delivered an oration Rights Equal Opportunity Commission, the Hon. Bill Shorten MP at the 2008 for the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration. Australian Hearing and many others Captioning Awards at our table this year. This was possible with the support of to help achieve some results. Lobbying It was great to have Bill Shorten with Australian Hearing and the Australian cannot happen alone. By teaming us that night and for him to see and Communication Exchange. up with others, we were able to see understand our issues. Bill also gave a There were a few favourite moments some shift within the sector such as heartfelt speech about employment for from the Summit but one has stood out the signing off to the United Nations people with a disability and discussed for me which was Li Cunxin’s keynote Convention of Rights of People with that a change needs to happen. speech and his daughter, Sophie Li’s a Disability, some negotiations with performance. It was spell-binding Cinemas and ongoing discussion with and inspirational. Free-to-Air industry. 5

Last year, I discussed about how Every day when I hold my son, I think of I can see what difference Deafness captioning is one of the most important his future and say to myself, ‘the future is Forum has made for many individuals access tool for deaf and hearing impaired here now and his future is in our hands’. up to now, and over the horizon and into Australians. It still is! The Captioning The breadth of issues are constantly the future, that’s what we are passionate Awards is a time where the industry expanding but this does not stop us from about and what we will continue. comes together and acknowledges each addressing each issue but we cannot Alex Jones other’s work as well as realising that do this alone. It is not possible. It is a there are many more opportunities out two-way street where we encourage you there over the horizon such as iTV, phone to help us achieve this dream, the real TV, radio, the internet and YouTube. I hope ‘social inclusion’ of Australian society. the Captioning Awards is a night to We need you. I bring us all again from encourage people to do better and better the Whitlam’s campaign – ‘Its time’ the every year and to do more for us. The future is now! We cannot sit back and Awards would not be possible without believe things will happen on its’ own. the generous and ongoing support of our It is time for us to unite with each other sponsors. no matter what or who you are.

As I sit here typing this report to reflect Thank you to our members for believing back on our achievements, I realised that in us. they are the stepping stones towards to Thank you to each one of you on the the bigger picture. Along with each board board and especially to the team, Nicole, member of Deafness Forum and the staff Christine, Jim, Kirsten, Rogan and our at the office of Deafness Forum, I am new staff member Amanda Sullivan. here today to make a difference. Chief Executive Officer/ Company Secretary’s report

Another busy, challenging and exciting year has passed. the presentation of Life Membership at the AGM. Our new Board members have settled in well and along with other Our many activities such as Hearing worked part‑time with us while he was Board members whose term continued Awareness Week, the Captioning completing his studies at the Australian or who were re-elected, have provided Awards, the 5th National Deafness National University and he has now myself and the other office staff with Sector Summit, the Libby Harricks moved on to new challenges in his life enormous guidance, assistance and Memorial Oration, Telecommunications and we wish him all the best. support. In a small organisation like representatives training, and for the Deafness Forum, our workload is quite Our national secretariat office in first time, two rural expos, added to our heavy and without the willingness of Canberra is always a busy place, with lobbying and systemic advocacy work, Board members to jump in and assist, many requests for posters during and the federal election and subsequent literally rolling up their shirtsleeves, we Hearing Awareness Week, organising change of government made for a would not be able to undertake as many the Captioning Awards, responding constant round of planning, meetings events and projects as we do. to queries, writing submissions, and submissions for the year. arrangements for other Board meetings Our Board members, as well as a number During the year our Policy and Project and events, and of course during 2007- of other volunteer representatives, Officer, Kirsten Preece, took maternity 08 our 5th National Deafness Sector undertake a large amount of work leave to welcome another baby to her Summit took up a huge amount of time on behalf of Deafness Forum, all with family. During this period we engaged and effort for the office staff. The staff the vision of improving access for a temporary Policy and Project Officer, are under constant pressure and I am Australians who are Deaf, have a hearing Rogan McMahon-Hogan, who brought grateful for their continued support and impairment, or a chronic disorder of a new perspective and different skills to good-humoured approach to their work. the ear. There is much to do and we the position in Kirsten’s absence. are so lucky to have so many talented, Much of my focus during the year dedicated and passionate people who are One of the major activities during has been on securing funding and working towards this goal. Rogan’s time with us was to organise sponsorships. While this has been two rural expos, thanks to an successful it remains a constant, and Our members continue to provide us arrangement with the National Relay time-consuming issue. with input and suggestions on our Service Outreach Program. These expos, position statements and the work The AGM in November 2007 brought in Ballarat (Victoria) and Bathurst (NSW) we undertake. Thank you for your the resignation of some Board members were a new experience for Deafness contributions and commitment, you are and we recognised the long-term and Forum as the coordinating body, and the mainstay of Deafness Forum. significant contribution of Margaret provided us with many insights and links Robertson and Ruth Fotheringham with into these local communities. Rogan Nicole Lawder 7 About our organisation

The Deafness Forum of Australia is the peak body for deafness in Australia. Established in early 1993, it represents all interests and viewpoints of Australians who are Deaf, have a hearing impairment or have a chronic disorder of the ear.

Our Mission Our Strategic Plan

To improve the quality of life for Deafness Forum’s current Strategic Plan • working with the federal government Australians who are Deaf, have a hearing covers the period to 2007-10. sector on policy development issues impairment or have a chronic disorder of Our strategic plan covers the current • making representations to private the ear by: Funding Agreement with the and community sector organisations • advocating for government policy Department of Families, Housing, about identified issues change and development Community Services and Indigenous • initiating and co-ordinating Affairs as well as Deafness Forum’s own • making input into policy national projects strategic objectives. The business plan and legislation associated with this strategic plan is • achieving the outcomes agreed in • generating public awareness normally reviewed annually. the context of its National Secretariat Program funding. • providing a forum for The 2007-10 Strategic Plan required that information sharing Deafness Forum’s mission be fulfilled by The outcomes agreed in the context of Deafness Forum’s National Secretariat • creating better understanding pursuing the following goals: Program funding are reflected in many of between all areas of deafness. • promoting better awareness of its role the headings used later in this report. • collecting, producing and disseminating information

• increasing public awareness of deafness

• developing, maintaining and refining networks Corporate Governance

There have been no reports of breach Deafness Forum was directly Deafness Forum has always sought to of compliance with laws governing (and indirectly) represented obtain financial support from various Deafness Forum as a legal entity on numerous committees and sources. In 2007-08 Deafness Forum or other relevant legislation. There organisations that influence (or seek was again quite successful in obtaining have been no complaints received to influence) government policies. financial support from some non-grant regarding the behaviour of Deafness Details are provided elsewhere in this sources. This was primarily because Forum representatives. Annual Report. The bodies on which of sponsorship. Full details of the Deafness Forum is directly represented financial and in-kind support are set out Various Advisory Panels assisted the include all key access, captioning, and separately in this report. national secretariat office and Board telecommunications committees. to deal with various issues during the Initiatives for raising funds during the year. Using these advisory panels and The Australian Federation of Disability period included: committed volunteers to augment the Organisations was established in the • continued sale of publications efforts of the Board and staff means first half of 2004. In 2007-08 Deafness that Deafness Forum has continued its Forum member Kaye Gooch, represented • seeking of sponsorships for 2007 determined efforts towards improving Deafness Forum as a Director of AFDO. Hearing Awareness Week access and achieving better quality of Deafness Forum’s Board and staff • successful sponsorship arrangements life for people who are deaf, hearing consider that it is an effective peak for 2007 Deafness Forum impaired or suffer from a chronic body. Deafness Forum can point to Captioning Awards disorder of the ear. significant achievements, as has been • successful sponsorship arrangements Major activities of the Board and done throughout this Annual Report, and for the 5th National Deafness staff during 2007-08 are described in is well regarded by other bodies. It plays Sector Summit other parts of this report. The day to active roles in numerous other bodies day work we undertake reflects the and groups where it can represent the • regular advertising for donations and Deafness Forum’s strategic plan and views of its members and others in the bequests in Newsletter mission statement. deafness sector. • listings with Pro Bono and Givewell

• successful application for grants from Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy for Telecommunications Consumer Representation Grant 9 PROFILE Margaret Robertson

• successful application for funds Margaret was awarded Life Membership from Department of Broadband, of Deafness Forum at the 2007 Annual Communications and the Digital General Meeting. Margaret has a Economy for sitting fees for progressive, sensorineural hearing loss representatives on Communications and has been reliant on hearing aids Alliance Disability Council. for twenty years. Margaret also uses various other techniques to assist her Deafness Forum continued to maintain communicate. These include assisted- all its financial records using MYOB listening devices, captioning and software, in accordance with the speech reading. recommendations of its auditor. Her professional life was spent as a The Board of Directors was provided Psychologist and she worked in university with comprehensive monthly reports counselling for 23 years, eight as the Government’s Reference Committee for explaining how actual income and Director of a Counselling Service. She is the Redevelopment of Services for Deaf expenditures compare with budget now retired but her interest continues and Hearing Impaired people. allocations, and giving explanations in promoting a cognitive-behavioural for differences. The Board passed an Margaret was a Director of the approach to rehabilitation for hearing appropriate resolution in respect of each Deafness Forum from October 1999 to loss and tinnitus. monthly report. The overall financial November 2007, including four years situation was monitored closely, with She has a history of involvement as Chairperson and a year as Deputy projections being made several months with community organisations, in Chairperson. Margaret has represented in advance to predict when critical particular Better Hearing Australia Deafness Forum on the Hearing Services financial situations might arise. Victoria where she served on the Industry Forum. She currently represents Committee of Management from 1997 Deafness Forum on the Telstra Disability Deafness Forum lodged all required to 2004. Margaret also provides articles, Forum and the Hearing Services advice and reports with the Australian workshops, and training programs on Consultative Committee. Securities and Investments Commission. rehabilitation and counselling topics to Annual audited financial statements Margaret Robertson has rendered self-help groups in the sector. She also for the year ending 30 June 2008 were outstanding service to the Deafness served as a member of the Victorian provided in the required format. Forum and in service of its objects. Our Board of Directors

The Board of the Deafness Forum is The AGM provides members in different Every opportunity is taken, through each made up generally of ten individuals, areas with easier opportunities to have of these meetings, to enable members to elected by the Organisation Members. face-to-face input to the Board, but that contribute to the development of policy Eight represent (and are) consumers, has to be balanced against the higher views, so that a national perspective is whilst two represent (and are) service costs of holding meetings in some reflected. providers. They are all volunteers locations. Following each Board meeting During 2007-08 the Board accepted, with and receive no remuneration for and AGM, all members are provided regret, the resignation of Ross McKeown their services. with a summary of the discussion and due to ill-health. decisions made. The elected representatives are each required to consult with members so that they are informed about members’ views when contributing to Board discussions and decision- making processes.

All Directors are responsible to act on behalf of all members, not just those that elected them.

The Board met on five occasions during 2007-08, either face to face or via electronic means. Face to face meetings were held in Melbourne in October, then in May 2008 immediately following the 5th National Deafness Sector Summit.

The Board conducts much of its business electronically as this is more feasible given the geographic spread of the Directors, from all over Australia. 11 Our Staff

Deaf Section Chief Executive Officer (full-time) Alex Jones (Chairperson)

Stephen Miller Ms Nicole Lawder joined the Deafness • implementation of policy and Ear Disorders Section Forum as CEO in April 2006. The role of strategic plans, and providing Bill Hick the CEO includes: leadership in their development

Ross McKeown • facilitating an effective government • responsibility for day to day (to January 2008) interface with respect to policy operations of the national secretariat issues affecting people who are Deaf, • liaising and collaborating Hearing Impaired Section have a hearing impairment or a with members Liz Evans (Deputy Chairperson) chronic ear disorder • networking and working within the Margaret Robertson • promoting interaction and wider disability sector and other (to November 2007) understanding between organisations relevant peak bodies, and and people within the deafness sector, Lyn Beaumont and with the wider community • oversighting projects and (from November 2007) business activities. • providing leadership and guidance to Parent Section both the Board of Directors and other Sarah Livingstone staff relating to the implementation of the goals and objectives of Jo Quayle Deafness Forum and to financial, (to November 2007) organisational, administrative and Roz Keenan lobbying strategies (from November 2007)

Service Provider Section Noeleen Bieske (to November 2007)

Dr Jill Duncan (from November 2007)

Sharan Westcott Policy and Project Administrative Our volunteers Officer (part-time) Officer (part-time)

Ms Kirsten Preece joined the staff in Ms Christine Dervaric and Mr Jim Volunteers make a very significant October 2002. The role of the Policy and McDougall undertake the role of contribution to the work of Project Officer includes: Administrative Officer in a job-share Deafness Forum. arrangement. Christine and Jim • developing, implementing and The Board of Directors acts on a started in January 2007. The role of the reviewing policies and projects voluntary basis, as do the various Administrative Officer includes: individuals who represent Deafness • seeking to maximise co-operation • maintaining membership and Forum on numerous committees and within the sector and participation newsletter subscription databases other bodies, and to meet ad hoc needs. from the sector Many Board members also represent • banking monies received • facilitating and seeking to maximise Deafness Forum on other committees membership participation in the work • preparing and despatching Tax and we re grateful for their contribution. of Deafness Forum Invoices as required for purchases of In addition to Board members and the goods and services from the Deafness • promoting the objectives and role members of the Libby Harricks Memorial Forum and ensuring payments are of Deafness Forum within both Oration Organising Committee (named received for all invoices the wider community and the in the Projects section of this report), deafness sector • preparing and sending Board mail the following people who represented outs as required • maintaining a high level the Deafness Forum in various ways of communication with • opening, logging and distributing during 2007-08 are acknowledged: member organisations incoming mail and faxes, and Andrew Stewart, Brian Rope, Ruth Fotheringham, Kaye Gooch, • developing awareness through • maintaining necessary supplies. Kathy Challinor, Alan Keir, Peter Lindley, promoting an appreciation of Rogan McMahon-Hogan joined us for and Margaret Robertson. issues affecting Deafness Forum’s 7 months while Kirsten Preece was on constituencies in a way that improves maternity leave. understanding and interaction, and

• providing the general community with information on deafness, hearing impairment and chronic ear disorders. 13

Operation of Acknowledgments the office

During 2007-08 we must We are always looking to improve the The Australian Government recognises particularly acknowledge the work of operation of our office and introduce Deafness Forum Limited as a peak Andrew Stewart, who undertakes an new ways of working. During 2007- national organisation in the deafness enormous amount of work on numerous 08 this included some administrative area. During 2007-08 the National telecommunications panels for us, as policy changes. Secretariat Program (NSP), administered well as Peter Lindley, who undertook by the Department of Families, Housing, In order to facilitate communication a considerable amount of advocacy Community Services and Indigenous between staff, we engage sign language in support of the campaign to have Affairs, provided funding for the interpreters as required. In addition, hearing health declared as a national Deafness Forum’s national secretariat. some staff are undertaking Auslan health priority. courses through TAFE to enable them We also received Disability Conference The contributions of those specifically to communicate with Deaf employees. funding to assist with our 5th National named here as well as all other Deafness Sector Summit. During 2007-08, some of our Board volunteers are received with extreme members attended a Board Builders Also during 2007-08 Deafness gratitude and respect by the conference in Melbourne. Forum Limited was supported Deafness Forum. by the Australian Government through the Telecommunications Consumer Representation Grant Program of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Our efforts in lobbying

During 2007-08 Deafness Forum • Worked with the Australian Federation • Health Services Access Card (until engaged in a variety of activities in of Disability Organisations (AFDO) 2007 election) pursuit of our lobbying and systemic on a range of initiatives including • Motion on captioning by Senator advocacy goals. commenting on the government’s Natasha Stott Despoja, including indigenous announcements, the UN Members and other stakeholders liaising with Senator Stott Despoja’s Convention on Rights of Persons with are consulted during the formation office, and meeting with Senator Gary Disability and election campaign of our submissions and position Humphries regarding the motion issues statements to ensure that Deafness • The launch of a new parents’ DVD in • Worked with the Human Rights and Forum’s official documents reflect the August 2007 with no captions views of our members. Copies of all Equal Opportunity Commission and formal submissions were provided to other stakeholders on the United • Triple 0 advertisements without the Department of Families, Housing, Nations Convention on the Rights of captions Community Services and Indigenous Persons with Disability • Government investigation into media Affairs following the lodgment of the • Submission and presentation to access for people who are Deaf or submission. Accessible Public Transport hearing in hearing impaired Formal and informal submissions and Canberra • National Auslan Booking, Payment presentations were prepared and lodged • Carers payment for people with and Information Service as follows: chronic disorders of the ear • Australian Electoral Commission on • Extensive discussions with HREOC, • Deaf Employment their Disability Action Plan Media Access Australia and other • Universal Service Obligation review • Regional Telecommunications Review stakeholders on captioning issues generally and our strategies for • Deaf and blind jurors (NSW Law • Lodging a number of complaints advancing captioning take-up in free Commission) with the Human Rights and Equal to air TV, subscription TV, cinema, and Opportunity Commission relating • Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers other areas to captioning, hotel access and • Emergency Call service (ACMA) other issues under the Disability Discrimination Act • NextG phones as replacement for CDMA phones and launch of our new brochure “Choosing the right phone” in Sydney, with Senator Helen Coonan 15 PROFILE • National Patients Charter of Rights Ruth Fotheringham • Liaised with members to write and complete an official Deafness Forum position statement on Ruth Fotheringham was a Director of the communication access in airports Deafness Forum from 2002 to 2006. She to Department of Families, Housing, has had a hearing loss for over 30 years Community Services and Indigenous and acquired a cochlear implant in 2002, Affairs and other government and a second one in 2007. She joined departments Better Hearing Australia in 1972 and is • Discussion paper on captioned still an active member. telephones Ruth previously has been a member • Submission to WA government on of the Australian Hearing Services newborn hearing screening. Steering Committee for Expanded Service Delivery, the Commonwealth Government’s Hearing Services Advisory Ruth received Life Membership of Committee, and the External Review Deafness Forum at the 2007 AGM. Panel for the NSW TAFE Audiometry Certificate Courses.

She also has a wider interest in people with disabilities, having worked as a Social Educator for people with an intellectual disability prior to retirement. She represented the Deafness Forum on the Board of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.

Ruth continues to represent Deafness Forum on matters relating to emergency management and electoral matters. Ruth is a deserving recipient of Life Membership of Deafness Forum of Australia. Our representation on panels and committees

Deafness Forum is often called upon by • Standards Australia Committees Training for government departments and Ministers ME‑064 and FP-002 to provide representatives to committees, telecommunications • Australian Federation of Disability councils, panels or working groups. We Organisations representatives call upon our Board members, staff, and a range of knowledgeable and committed • National Newborn Hearing Screening Training for telecommunications volunteers to undertake this work. Committee representatives In February 2008 Deafness Forum repeated its popular We are grateful to those people who act • Hearing Services Consultative and successful Telecommunications as our representatives on the committees Committee Consumer Representatives Training for sharing their time and expertise, • NSW Ministerial Standing Committee program. usually in their own time. These on Hearing commitments are also acknowledged in The program was first run during • NSW Department of Juvenile Justice the section on volunteers. 2006-07, through a grant from the Disability Strategic Group (then) Department of Communications, Deafness Forum representatives • Qantas Disability Advisory Panel Information Technology and the Arts. participated in the following working In 2007-08 Deafness Forum again parties, committees, and forums: • Australian Electoral Commission received a grant from the Department Disability Advisory Panel • HREOC-convened forums – on of Broadband, Communications and the captioning in cinemas, DVDs, • National Forum on Emergency Digital Economy to run this training and Free‑to‑air TV and Subscription TV Warnings to the Community. this time it was expanded to a 2-day program. • Telstra Disability Forum In addition, through the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, • National Relay Service Customer The training aimed to include people Deafness Forum provided representatives Consultative Committee from rural areas and was held in Bathurst to the following: (NSW) in February 2008. • Communications Alliance • Optus Consumer Liaison Forum Disability Council The expanded course time enabled the • Telstra Consumer Consultative inclusion of sessions on: • Telecommunications and Disability Council. Consumer Representation (TEDICORE) Project Advisory Board 17 PROFILE Peter Lindley

Peter Lindley has had profound sensorineural hearing loss since the age of seven. Peter left school at the age of fourteen and worked in a butter factory – then held various jobs, erecting blinds, packer and storeman, fruit picker. In the late 60s, Peter started work as an orderly at a public hospital in Brisbane – a position he held for 33 years, working in three different areas of rehabilitation.

Through his involvement with Better Hearing Australia, the Australian Deafness Council, and Deafness Forum • various mobile phone technology The training manual was well received of Australia, Peter has been a passionate and participants felt it was professional and committed advocate for better • real time messaging and useful. hearing health and access to services. • internet relay Peter chairs Deafness Forum’s Hearing • Teleschool and other web-based Health as a National Priority advocacy applications. committee and is an extremely active member of our campaigns. Our consultation and networking

During 2007-08 Deafness Forum • Met with office of Senator Conroy (ALP • Met with office of Minister engaged with a wide range of Ministers, Shadow Minister for Communications for Employment Services Members of Parliament, Senators, State – prior to 2007 election) Brendan O’Connor and federal Government Departments • Met with Senator Jan McLucas • Met with Shadow Minister for and agencies, and other disability groups (ALP Shadow Minister for Disabilities Families and Community Services Tony about key policy issues, including the and Ageing – prior to 2007 election) Abbott MP following: • Met with office of Julie Bishop MP • Met with Shadow spokesperson on • Regular meetings were held with (Minister for Education – prior to 2007 disability, Senator Cory Bernardi key officers of the Office of Hearing election) Services (OHS) within the Department • Met with Senator Rachel Siewert of of Health and Ageing, providing a • Met with Dr Carmen Lawrence MP the Australian Greens, who is assisting specific mechanism for the provision (ALP – prior to 2007 election) us with our captioning lobbying of feedback on government policy, • Attended AFDO election campaign for • Attended ACOSS national Congress services and programs relevant to Campaign Enable in Sydney • Attended Australian Council of Social OHS • Met with office of Fran Bailey MP Service (ACOSS) national member • Regular meetings with the (Minister for Tourism – prior to meetings (Deafness Forum is a Department of Families, Housing, 2007 election) member of ACOSS) Community Services and Indigenous • Met with Senator Natasha • Attended meetings about palliative Affairs were also held during 2007- Stott‑Despoja care and quality care at the end of life. 08, providing a feedback mechanism in respect of government disability • Met with Minister for Ageing • Attended consumer day of the policy, services, and programs relevant Justine Elliot Audiology Australia conference to the Branch • Attended hearing screenings at • Attended meetings and liaised • Meetings with Blind Citizens Australia Parliament House Canberra run by with Human Rights Commission, and deafblind representatives about Australian Hearing, including press Free TV, Media Access Australia, deafblindness issues conference of Senator Chris Ellison Independent Cinemas Association, (Minister for Human Services) ASTRA and other interested parties regarding progressing captioning in • Attended a number of AFDO various industries member meetings Case 19 study

• Attended a range of workshops • Attended the joint Deaf Australia/ Deafness Forum wrote to the Office of around Australia on the National ASLIA forum on interpreting Hearing Services in the Department Mental Health and Disability of Health and Ageing in early 2008 to • Attended the Human Rights Awards Employment Strategy, run by Minister draw attention of providers to the need lunch at HREOC for Employment Participation Brendan for a holistic approach, as hearing aids O’Connor, and Parliamentary Secretary • Attended launch of the 2008 National alone do not and cannot address all for Disability and Children’s Services Disability Awards at Parliament the difficulties that are experienced by Bill Shorten House. someone with hearing loss.

• Attended workshops with Department • Attended a meeting with the The need is to address the client as a of Broadband, Communications and Telecommunications Industry whole person, and the total impact that Digital Economy regarding consumer Ombudsman to discuss their disability a hearing loss may have on their life. representation and participation in action plan This model is supported by the literature telecommunication industry codes • Attended the launch of the Internet particularly coming out of the US and • Attended meetings of Australian relay, held at Parliament House on UK: the implicit reason hard of hearing Standard 1428.5 and provided 3 September 2007 people access Hearing Care (Audiology / Rehabilitation) services is not for hearing written comments on the standard • Attended Access Card meetings and aids per se, but because they want/seek throughout the year workshops (prior to 2007 election) help in minimizing the hearing-related on the exposure draft of the Access • Attended Department of Families, problems they are experiencing. Housing, Community Services Card legislation. and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) The letter encouraged encourage service discussions on the National Disability providers to refer their clients to other Advocacy Program vital community groups, consumer groups, self-help groups, and all other • Attended 2007 National services in their area to ensure they Disability Awards get the best possible support for their • Attended Better Hearing Australia hearing needs, including talking with (Vic) 75th anniversary seminar other people and families with children who have been through the same • Attended 2007 National Newborn journey and may have valuable tips. Hearing Screening Conference our partiCipation our information and in researCh awareness raising aCtivities

PrOjECT LOOkiNG AT NEWSLETTErS MONTHLy EMAiL THE CO-ExiSTENCE NEWS uPDATES

Of HEAriNG LOSS four issues of Deafness forum’s quarterly our monthly electronic newsletter AND MENTAL iLLNESS newsletter were completed. all used full “one in six” is prepared and distributed colour on their outside covers. Deafness in-house. It provides links to relevant During 2007-08 Deafness forum was forum’s newsletter has been utilised research and articles as well as pleased to auspice a research project to provide members with accurate a calendar of upcoming events. on the co-existence of hearing loss and information regarding government During 2007-08, “one in six” had a minor mental illness. This study specifically policies. During this year we continued re-design, from 3 columns to one column looked at post-lingual hearing loss (as our themed approach for the newsletter, to make it easier for those with vision opposed to people who have been Deaf/ which included: impairment to read. hearing impaired since birth). • Newsletter No. 54, August 2007 – The researchers, chrissy o’reilly and babies and children Kate Treloar, wanted to investigate the • Newsletter No. 55, November 2007 – response of hearing service providers ear disorders and noise injury to hearing loss issues and its social and mental impact. Issues such as • Newsletter No. 56, February 2008 – misdiagnosis, fragmented treatment, language prolonged hospital stays and increased • Newsletter No. 57, May 2008 – risk of relapse were of interest. government policy and programs

The researchers gave a presentation Deafness forum is frequently on their findings at the 5th National approached by other organisations who Deafness sector summit in May 2008 in wish to reproduce articles in their own canberra. newsletters and permission is granted This research project was possible for this. thanks to a research grant from friends During 2007-08 we undertook a design of australian communication exchange review of the newsletter and updated its service (faces). look to become more consistent with our website and our “one in six” newsletter. Profile 21

Websites Media releases International

Deafness Forum’s two websites Deafness Forum issued a number of Dear Deafness Forum, www.deafnessforum.org.au and media releases during 2007-08, relating www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au were to particular events and issues, including: Thank you for your mail, to read about updated on a regular basis as a means all these activities on AUSTRALIA DAY! • Raising Children DVD released of providing community information without captions I am a regional volunteer for dutch and education on hearing impairment organisation Hard of Hearing, and a and deafness. • 000 advertisement on TV member of their small international without captions The Deafness Forum website underwent committee. It does me good to read a major re-design during 2007-08 with • Captioning Awards winners about all these activities in Australia, and your facilities and events, also from the the assistance of a team of IT students • DVD accessibility from the University of Melbourne. previous newsletters of the forum. • The 5th National Deafness Sector The new website was launched in I wish you lots of luck from the Summit is approaching December 2007 and provides a more Netherlands, Europe, and we get a small intuitive interface as well as easier • Rural Health expos picture about Australia. (in the mornings updating and maintenance for Deafness • Government investigation into there is a BBC program about people Forum staff. Specialist web skills are media access emigrating to Australia, so that is a tiny no longer required, meaning that any image of Australia. staff members can use the content • Objection to Free to Air exemption management system to quickly and application. Greetings, easily update the information on the Hannie Huigsloot website. It also means that our home van vegcheltstraat 6 page is regularly updated, rather 5993 ep maasbree than static. BrOCHurES MEMBErS COMMuNiCATiON CHANNELS

all Deafness forum publications, Deafness forum provides a large • Surveys including online surveys including several information brochures amount of information to members about Deafness forum events and and its quarterly newsletter, are available about upcoming events, activities and activities to members and to the public, free undertaken by the board and staff. • CDMA closure and information about 3G. of charge. This information is sent via both “push” some of our communication during Deafness forum also distributed and “pull” styles. as information comes to 2007-08 has included: quantities of various publications the office, it is sent to members either as produced by other organisations. standalone emails, or as part of monthly • Quarterly Newsletters sent to e-news updates or quarterly newsletters. members, subscribers and other relevant organisations Just a small sample of some of the items of interest which we have communicated • News Updates sent to organisation to members during the year include: members (to most by e-mail) monthly • All material for publication received • Information about the 2007 federal from members or contributors is election and appointment of new published as sent, with the only Ministers exception being grammatical/ • Captioned theatre performances orthographical corrections

• Government media releases about • Regular e-mail/mail sent to members issues affecting our members and non-member deafness sector • Information about the UN Convention organisations on the rights of Persons with • Websites maintained with current Disability news and information and • Deafness Forum upcoming events upcoming events including Hearing awareness Week, • Telephone (voice, text and via National captioning awards, rural expos, 5th relay service), e-mail and mail contact national Deafness sector summit with various relevant individuals and • Passing on third party requests for organisations participants for research activities 23

OrATiON MONOGrAPH

• Uniphone (voice and text) used to The tenth libby Harricks Memorial The published monographs are made receive/make calls from/to people oration was delivered by associate available to professionals and other with TTYs Professor bob cowan during the 5th sectors, directly and via public libraries, national Deafness sector summit. as a contribution to informing them • Face-to-face meetings (including regarding hearing impairment and board meetings) with various relevant Professor cowan spoke about “access, deafness issues. individuals and organisations, using equity and hearing loss in australia in auslan, real time captioning and 2008”, in which he presented a picture of Monograph of The Tenth libby Harricks hearing augmentation systems as hearing loss in australia to the present Memorial oration (Isbn 978 0 9578615 8 necessary to suit the individuals date, and as an update to the well- 9), May 2008 involved. regarded and extensively used access • Videos screened for Deaf and hearing economics report “listen Hear: The impaired people have captions economic cost and impact of hearing loss in australia”. • Videos screened for signing Deaf people interpreted when not available The annual libby Harricks Memorial in captioned formats oration is designed to contribute to community education and is published • Portable TTY provided for use by Deaf to facilitate wider dissemination of the and hearing impaired participants awareness raising messages in them. attending meetings if none available Published monograph versions of all on the meeting site orations have been printed and two of • CART (computer-aided real time them have also been made available transcription) provided as necessary for sale in captioned video versions. for representatives participating in meetings

• DVDs, videos, and TV Community service announcements produced are all captioned, and some have auslan interpreters on them.. Other papers and Expos and displays presentations

Deafness Forum often takes the On occasions, Deafness Forum The Rural hearing and health expos were opportunity to present at other participates in expos, displays and organised and run by Deafness Forum for conferences and events. These conferences to provide information the first time in February 2008, with the presentations might be by staff, Board about our activities. Some of the events assistance of the National Relay Service members or other representatives. we attended during 2007-08 included: Outreach Service.

Every opportunity also was taken to raise • 2007 National Newborn Hearing Deafness Forum invited a large number awareness in various professional and Screening Conference of local community organisations, largely other quarters, including: involved in health and community • Hearing screenings at Parliament services, to participate at the rural expos. • 2007 National Newborn Hearing House during 2007 Hearing Experts in particular fields gave talks Screening Conference Awareness Week throughout each of the 2-day expos. Full • Macquarie University Masters of • Rural Expos in Ballarat (Victoria) communication access was provided Audiology class and Bathurst (NSW) (hearing loop, Auslan interpreters, and real time captioning). • Emergency Warning to the Community conference

• 2007 Community Nurse Mischelle Edmunds (Cochlear) gives a talk at Ballarat Audiometrist Association

• Sydney Film Festival access panel.

Deafness Forum receives numerous requests for articles from our newsletterto be re-used in other publications. 25 Our members

Structure Life Members as at 30 June 2008

Deafness Forum has four classes of terminologies they prefer, and are asked • Mr John Bartlett membership: Consumers, Consumer to do so at the time of joining and each • Mr Stan Batson Associations, Service Providers, and time they renewing membership. Service Provider Associations. • Dr Victor Bear AM Consumer Association means an Consumer means an adult who is Deaf incorporated Association of, or for, • Dr Harry Blackmore AM or has a hearing impairment or has a consumers (as defined above). • Mrs Cath Bonnes AM chronic ear disorder; or a parent of such Service Provider means an adult who a person. • Mrs Ruth Fotheringham provides services that promote the well • Ms Diana Hodgetts Chronic Ear Disorder refers to such being of people who are consumers disorders of the ear as tinnitus, (as defined above). Examples are • Hon Peter Howson CMG Meniere’s Disease, Acoustic Neuroma, audiologists, audiometrists, teachers • Mr Robert Quail AM hyperacusis and recruitment. People of the deaf, stenocaptioners, Auslan with such ear disorders may also have a interpreters, and ENT specialists. Service • Mrs Margaret Robertson hearing impairment. Providers also include various other • Mr Brian Rope OAM occupations that provide services to Deaf refers to people who see consumers who are Deaf, have a hearing • Mr Andrew Stewart themselves as members of the Auslan- impairment or have a chronic disorder using Deaf community by virtue of its of the ear. language (Auslan) and culture. Any Consumer who is also a Service Hearing Impairment refers to a Provider may only join as a Consumer. hearing loss. People with a hearing impairment (or who are hard of Service Provider Association means an hearing) may communicate orally incorporated Association, which has (as (sometimes described as ‘oral deaf’) its principal purpose) the provision of or may use a sign language or other services that promote the wellbeing of communication methods. consumers (as defined above).

All Consumers are entitled to Any Consumer Association that is also describe themselves using whatever a Service Provider Association may only join as a Consumer Association. Analysis of membership

Deafness Forum endeavours to maintain and grow its membership base. Whenever any members advise that they do not wish to renew membership, particular Directors of Deafness Forum are asked to make personal contact to ascertain why and endeavour to change the members’ minds. Every opportunity is also taken to promote membership. The following table analyses membership as at 30 June 2008.

Membership Analysis at 30 June 2007

Class SA NT TAS WA ACT NSW VIC QLD O’seas GRAND TOTAL

Consumers 11 2 3 10 7 38 23 5 5 99

Consumer Associations 2 1 0 1 1 10 6 4 4 25

Service Providers 4 2 0 6 0 15 13 11 11 51

Service Provider Associations 2 0 0 1 2 14 11 3 3 33

Grand Total 19 5 3 18 10 77 53 23 23 208

Benefits of Deafness Forum Membership

• Quarterly newsletter and regular and Associations on issues of email information mutual concern

• Your means of making your views • Be kept up to date on issues, known to government events, trends

• The opportunity to work • Access to literature, resources, services, cooperatively with other individuals information, statistics. 27 our proJeCts

HEAriNG AWArENESS WEEk

National Hearing Awareness Week is always held in the final complete week of august (from sunday to saturday). each year there is a new focus and theme for Hearing awareness Week.

The theme for 2007 was “geT THe Message”.

Posters events may be organised by any other Media release organisations that wishes to do so. Deafness forum produced a poster Deafness forum produces media There are co-ordinating groups in most for 2007 Hearing awareness Week. materials that can be re-used by states, but some organisations operate The poster covered issues ranging participants in Hearing awareness independently of them. from noise pollution, to hearing aids, Week activities. group communication and the use of new fact sheets and a few other Deafness forum must congratulate all sign language. resources were added to the site for this the HaW committees and organisations year’s theme. feedback received about around 6000 posters were distributed and individuals around the country the website so far would suggest that australia-wide. whose tireless work helped to bring noise it is user friendly and has useful and up injury and prevention to the attention of The posters were also available on the to date information. some people have the wider community. Hearing awareness Week website asked for more child or youth friendly www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au resources to be made available and The assistance of various sponsors is for download so potentially more posters this is something we can consider and appreciated as it enables us to continue were out in the public view. work towards as the resources and staff to provide posters (including postage time allow. and handling) and the website free of Website charge to all. Deafness forum maintains a special website on which any organisation may register events, produces posters and other material for use and seeks national media coverage. Individual

sponsors are acknowledged in the financial and In-Kind support section of this report. The Hon Bill Shorten MP with Alex Jones (Chairman) National Deafness Sector Summits and Liz Evans (Deputy Chair) at the 5NDSS

The 5th National Deafness Sector History of the Summit The inaugural National Deafness Sector Summit was held in Canberra in May Summit was conducted successfully In August 1999, the then Board of 2008. Day 1 covered topics including in Canberra in March 2000. There Deafness Forum decided to explore the government updates, a number of were 96 delegates from 65 different possibility of conducting a Summit of “My Life” presentations, and mental organisations. The majority of delegates the entire deafness sector. The proposal health. Day 2 covered a lifecycle approach represented organisations of and for the initially was put to the Deafness Forum with sessions on babies, children, Deaf community, people with a hearing for consideration by Better Hearing adolescents, working age, and older impairment or a chronic disorder of the Australia after learning about a highly Australians. ear, and parents of Deaf and hearing successful summit held in Britain. impaired children. There were also a number of workshops Coincidentally, the then Minister offered on telecommunications, There also were a significant number of for Family and Community Services captioning, rural health, and advocacy. delegates representing service provider subsequently expressed a wish that One of the key outcomes of the 5NDSS and government organisations that have added another very good reason for the was a commitment to a position a particular interest in deafness. proposed summit. The Minister was statement on captioned telephone. very keen that each sector (in the family The Summit identified many matters The presentation by Li Cunxin, author of and community services arena) spoke that the entire deafness sector could “Mao’s Last Dancer” and his daughter to her and, through her, to the whole of work on together, advocating and Sophie, was especially popular with government with one voice. Thus, in the achieving results by being united. Since delegates. deafness sector, she would very much the inaugural Summit, the Deafness prefer to receive just one submission on Forum has used a policy development any one topic from the peak body, rather process that seeks to enable all deafness than a number of submissions saying sector organisations to participate. the same thing (or, sometimes, different things) from various organisations.

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Department of Health and Ageing – Office of Hearing Services 29

Libby Harricks Memorial Oration

A number of policy positions have The Libby Harricks Memorial Oration The orator was Professor Bob Cowan been adopted. is held each year in memory of who spoke about “Access, equity and Founding President and Life Member hearing loss in Australia in 2008”, in Since then further Summits have been Mrs Elisabeth Ann (Libby) Harricks, AM which he presented a picture of hearing held including: who died on 1 August 1998. loss in Australia to the present date, • The 2nd National Deafness Sector and as an update to the well-regarded Summit was held in Melbourne in As at 30 June 2008 the committee and extensively used Access Economics 2001, focussing on areas that had comprised Mr David Harricks, report “Listen Hear: The economic cost been identified as current priorities, Dr Jenny Rosen, Ms Sharan Westcott, and impact of hearing loss in Australia. with a view to finalising some Mr Peter Cipollone, Ms Lyndall Carter, and additional policy positions and Mr Marshall Smither.

making a substantial start on some Dr Jenny Rosen (Chair of the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration Organising Committee) with 2008 orator A/Professor others. Again, all deafness sector Bob Cowan, Anthea Green of Australian Hearing, and members of the LHMO Organising Committee David Harricks, Sharan Westcott, Lyndall Carter, Marshall Smither (absent Peter Cipollone) organisations and other relevant bodies were invited to participate.

• The 3rd National Deafness Sector Summit was held in Brisbane in May 2004. It was designed to enable delegates to identify practical actions that are required in a number of other particular priority areas.

• The 4th National Deafness Sector Summit was held in Perth in May 2006 and covered topics of considerable current concern for members. Thanks to acT primary school students with hearing impairment who provided these artworks 31 Captioning Awards

The 2007 Deafness Forum Captioning 2007 Roma Wood OAM Community Winner ABC for increasing captioning, Awards were a major success. The award Award and the Anzac Day live captioning winners were announced at a dinner in Presented to John Byrne coverage Sydney in August 2007. 2007 Members Choice Award 2007 Award for Best Promotion of After the 2007 Captioning Awards, Highly commended Captioning or Best Consumer Education Deafness Forum distributed a survey Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon); Gena Campaign to all attendees to seek their feedback Apartments (Caloundra); Winner Glen Street Theatre on the Awards and to inform our Australia’s Next Top Model (FOX8); 2007 Award for Best Event Captioning preparations for the 2008 Captioning Spongebob (Nickelodeon) Highly commended The Captioning Awards. Winner QANTAS Studio for Libby Harricks Memorial Deafness Forum gratefully acknowledges 2007 Award for DVD Captioning Oration, 9th National Rural Health the support of all sponsors, who made Highly commended ABC Conference this event possible. The assistance of Winner National Geographic Channel Winner Darebin City Council various sponsors is acknowledged in the 2007 Award for Advertising Captioning 2007 Award for Most Consistent Use of Financial and In-Kind Support section of Winner Area 51 captioning Captioning this report. advertisements Highly commended Antiques Roadshow (Lifestyle Channel) 2007 Award for Pay TV Captioning Winner Disney Channel Winner The Great BBQ Challenge Grand Finale Live 2007 Award for the Best New Captioning (Lifestyle FOOD Channel) Initiative Highly commended The Captioning 2007 Award for Free to air TV Captioning Studio (Go-Theatrical) Highly commended 2007 Australian Winner FOXTEL IQ Upgrade Open, Seven Network

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 33

HEAriNG LOOP CArDS EDuCATiONAL SCHOLArSHiPS

During 2007-08 Deafness forum In January 2008 Deafness forum produced 2 sets of hearing loop cards. awarded two educational scholarships to The business-card sized cards are assist students who are Deaf or hearing distributed free to members, to be impaired to pursue further studies. These handed in at venues that either do not scholarships were possible through a best new captioning initiative – foxtel have a hearing loop installed, or have a donation in memory of Joan binns, and loop which is not switched on or working from the proceeds of a silent auction properly. at the 2007 captioning awards. The 2008 educational scholars were from The cards are a quick and easy was to nsW and Victoria. each scholarship is complain about induction loops, you worth $1,500. There were 20 applications can just pass one on to a shop assistant, received. a small committee of two board bank clerk, cinema staff member. The members assessed the applications and card explains that you need an induction recommended recipients. loop to hear clearly, and it asks staff to check if the loop in their premises is PArENT STEEriNG best DVD captioning winner national geographic working properly. The card has a link to channel, Highly commended abc the Deafness forum website for more COMMiTTEE PrOjECT information. These loop cards produced with the assistance of Printacall. During 2007-08 Deafness forum had assistance from a final year student from the University of canberra who was undertaking a bachelor of community education. The student assisted with a project focusing on producing family-centred standards for the early years of a child’s life when diagnosed with deafness. The project is still Winner of 2007 roma Wood community awards, underway as there are currently limited John byrne, pictured with roma Wood oaM. resources to devote to it. Our financial situation

Financial and In-Kind Support

Deafness Forum’s 2007-08 total income Deafness Forum gratefully acknowledges the following increased by 102,610 compared with financial and in-kind support during 2007-08: 2006-07. This increase was largely associated with sponsorship of the 5th National Deafness Sector Summit. The Government Grants and other government funding net profit/loss for the year was $4,908 compared with a net loss of $8,514 in $ (GST included) the previous year. Full and accurate information regarding the financial Department of Families, Community Services and 210,936.00 situation is in the separate audited Indigenous Affairs - National Secretariat Program financial statements. Department of Families, Community Services and 11,165.00 As annual reports have noted for some Indigenous Affairs - National Disability Conference Funding years the Deafness Forum cannot be Department of Communications, Information Technology 49,082.00 complacent about its financial future. and the Arts - Telecommunications Consumer It continues to be important that Representation Grants Program Deafness Forum increase its income from other sources, to enable it to maintain Department of Broadband, Communications and the 1,879.50 operations at minimal levels and provide Digital Economy - Telecommunications Consumer Representation members and others with the current Grants 2007-2008 Sitting Fee level of service. As a result, additional sources of income constantly need to be TOTAL 252,721.50 identified and tapped. 35

Sponsorships

$ (GST excluded) Australian Communication Exchange (2007 Captioning Awards) 5,000

Australian Communication Exchange (2008 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration) 5,500

Australian Hearing (2007 Hearing Awareness Week) 2,000

Australian Hearing (2008 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration) 5,500

ASTRA (2007 Captioning Awards) 3,150

AUSTAR (2007 Captioning Awards) 6,250

Captioning and Subtitling International (2007 Captioning Awards) 1,650

Cochlear (2007 Hearing Awareness Week) 5,000

Cochlear (5th National Deafness Sector Summit) 5,500

Dept of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2007 Captioning Awards) 3,150

Disability ACT (5th National Deafness Sector Summit) 1,500

FOXTEL (2007 Captioning Awards) 6,250

Helen King Hearing (2007 Hearing Awareness Week) 1,000

Media Access Australia (2007 Captioning Awards) 3,150

Media Access Australia (5th National Deafness Sector Summit) 4,000

National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (5th National Deafness Sector Summit) 5,000

National Relay Service Outreach (5th National Deafness Sector Summit) 5,000

Printacall (Loops Cards) 1,000

Siemens (5th National Deafness Sector Summit) 5,000

Seven Network (2007 Captioning Awards) 12,500

Siemens Hearing Instruments (2007 Hearing Awareness Week) 2,000

TOTAL $89,100 Captioning and Subtitling International In kind support through providing stenocaptioning

Printacall In kind support through providing Hearing Loops

The Captioning Studio In kind support through providing stenocaptioning

Without the valuable sponsorship we receive, we would not be able to undertake the events and activities we carry out. Your sponsorship is very much appreciated. Donations National Secretariat $ (GST exempt)

Dr Harvey Coates 22.60 218 Northbourne Avenue Caroline Lister 10.00 Braddon ACT 2612

Tel: 02 6262 7808 Kathy Stoddart 262.60 TTY: 02 6262 7809 Barry Mackinnon 12.60 Fax: 02 6262 7810 email: [email protected] Laurie Kellam 50.00 www.deafnessforum.org.au Nathan Parry 62.60 www.hearingawarenessweek.org.au

Elizabeth Burgess 26.00

Chris Thompson 1.10

Patricia Laidlaw 200.00

Hugh Ralston 50.00

Linnett Sanchez in memory of Joan Binns 1000.00

Reserve Bank Benevolent Fund 2750.00

Reserve Bank 2750.00

Hearing Retail Group 25.00

TOTAL 7,222.50

Donations are greatly appreciated and assist us to undertake work such as producing hearing loop cards, brochures, and awarding scholarships to Deaf and hearing impaired students. deafness forum of australia Annual Report 2007-2008

Improving the quality of life for Australians who are deaf, have a hearing impairment or have a chronic disorder of the ear