Hear and Say

19/11/2025

And the winner is… 🥁🎉💥

Congratulations to the unstoppable Yeppoon community, who have been officially crowned the 2025 Loudest Town, turning the volume all the way UP and raising an incredible $31,885 to support children with hearing loss!

Yeppoon got LOUD for someone very special – seven-year-old Charlotte, a local legend who lost her hearing overnight at just two years old after a common cold. After months of silence, a cochlear implant and support from Hear and Say helped Charlotte learn to listen again – all while staying in her hometown thanks to telehealth and specialist services for regional families.

Yeppoon, you’ve proven once again that regional Queensland knows how to show up, rally together, and make some SERIOUS noise for a good cause.

Thank you for helping ensure more families like the Rivetts have the chance to listen, speak and thrive! Until next year!

Loud Shirt Day

19/11/2025

💙We are so grateful to the members of Quota Wynnum Manly who joined us for Morning Tea at our Ashgrove Centre on Thursday.
These extraordinary ladies and their colleagues raised $15,000 for our Child Championship program through their annual auction on 20 September at the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre at Wynnum 🙌
Their generous and long-term support for our services to children with hearing loss and their families started in 1993, the year after Hear and Say was established.

We also extend thanks to the many Quota Clubs throughout Queensland and Northern NSW who continue to provide outstanding support to Hear and Say!!

16/11/2025

🥳 It was wonderful to see Michael Whitby’s Deaflympics journey highlighted on the news a few days ago, along with his reunion with long-time Hear and Say supporter Wally Lewis.

We’re sending all our good wishes to Michael as he dives into competition 🏊

07/11/2025

What a way to turn up the volume! 🎉

October may be wrapped, but we’re still cheering from all the excitement of Loud Shirt Day! Across Queensland, 173 incredible participants came together to raise over $310,000! We had Golf and Bowls Days, Lunches, BBQs, Auctions, Raffles, Loud Shirt Days at schools, an Art Show and much more. We were also proud to have 17 towns taking part in the battle for the title of Loudest Town.

Every bright shirt, every dollar raised, and every conversation started helps give the gift of sound and changes lives for people with hearing loss.

From all of us at Hear and Say, thank you for getting LOUD and turning up the volume for kids with hearing loss! 💥👕

04/11/2025

From late starter to international player since 2013, Patrick Lane brings strength and heart to the Goannas at the Deaflympics 🏀💛
Yet another Hear and Say client at this year's games!

21 Days to Go – A late starter to the sport but playing at the international level since 2013 at the Sofia Deaflympics, this athlete typifies hard work gets rewards. He brings much needed physical strength to the Goannas as they look to put on a good showing in Tokyo - here is Patrick Lane! 🏀

04/11/2025

🏃‍♂️💨 Hear and Say’s Ivah Hales is ready to sprint into action! With his eyes set on new personal bests in athletics, Ivah’s determination and drive are truly inspiring.
We’ll be cheering from the sidelines (in Brisbane!). Go Ivah! 👏💙

47 Days to Go - An up-and-coming sprinter who hails from sunny Queensland, let’s cheer on Ivah Hales at his first Deaflympics!

04/11/2025

🏊‍♂️ Hear and Say’s Michael is diving into a busy Deaflympics calendar of swimming events!
We caught up with him recently before his regular mapping appointment. Keep an eye out for his inspiring story coming soon.
Go Michael, we’re cheering you on from Brisbane! 👏💙

42 Days to Go - Another male swimmer that has formed part of the largest swim team since Melbourne 2005, and set for a busy program at Tokyo - here is Mikey Whitby! 🏊‍♂️

04/11/2025

👏 Our very own Joseph Morosini is competing at the Deaflympics in Japan, in Basketball 🏀 All of Hear and Say is cheering for your Joseph!! Not long now until the games begin...

25 Days to Go – Our newest Goanna, who recently joined the program and will be raring to go and rep the green and gold in Tokyo - let’s go Joseph Morosini!!!

02/11/2025

What an inspiring day at Parliament House in Canberra for the 2025 Power of Speech! 🎤✨

Children, families, and staff from First Voice centres across Australia and New Zealand came together to celebrate the amazing achievements of six young speakers with cochlear implants. Including our very own Including our very own, Hear and Say superstar, Edward 💙

Each child took to the stage with courage and confidence to share their story and show what’s possible through early intervention and access to sound.

We’re so proud to stand alongside our First Voice partners, Members of Parliament, and leaders from the hearing health community. All championing brighter futures for children with hearing loss.

Thank you to everyone who made this event such a success, including our friends at The Shepherd Centre for hosting, Cochlear Australia and New Zealand for their support, and all who joined us on the day.

Mark Butler MP Senator Anne Ruston Jenny McAllister Cochlear Australia and New Zealand TSH NextSense CanDo 4Kids The Hearing House, LLC Auditory Verbal UK The Carel du Toit Centre

30/10/2025

Today’s the day! Join us via livestream for the 2025 Power of Speech as six incredible children with cochlear implants, aged 5 - 13, from across Australia and New Zealand take the stage at Parliament House in Canberra to share their stories. 🙌

This unique annual event celebrates children with hearing loss who have learnt to listen and speak with the support of First Voice member centres, showing what’s possible with expert early intervention, the right technology and support.

Tune in live from 7:00am, with proceedings to start shortly after:https://tsc.org.au/stream

A huge thank you to Cochlear Australia and New Zealand for making this event possible.

Cochlear Australia and New Zealand CanDo 4Kids Auditory Verbal UK The Carel du Toit Centre Hear and Say The Hearing House

23/10/2025

It’s time for another Meet the Team! 🌟 Each month we spotlight someone from our organisation who helps children and families hear, listen and speak.

This month, meet Liz — our Sunshine Coast based speech pathology clinicians 🦋

🎤 What first inspired you to pursue a career in speech pathology?
I’ve always loved connecting with people, and I knew early on that I wanted to help others and make a real difference in their lives. Communication is such a vital part of who we are, and being able to support children and families in finding their voices is incredibly meaningful to me. It’s a privilege to be part of their journey.

🏡 What’s the biggest challenge, and reward, of working in a regional centre?
It can be tricky at times with things like staffing or accessing certain services, but the rewards are huge. Being able to support families close to home, without them needing to travel a long way. It means families get the help they need, right where they are.

🌿 What’s something people might be surprised to learn about your role?
People often think of speech pathology as just helping children say words — but it’s so much more. Some of the most powerful moments are when early intervention makes a visible difference in a child’s life. It might be a child hearing for the first time, using words to express themselves, playing confidently with friends at kindy, or the joy on a parent’s face when they realise their child is going to be okay. Those are the moments that stay with you. It’s incredibly humbling to be part of that process, even in a small way.

💙 Can you share a proud moment from your time at Hear and Say?
Honestly, I’ve experienced Hear and Say from both sides — as a team member and as a parent. Two of my four children have hearing loss, and I’ve watched them thrive and achieve their goals thanks to the support we received. Now, I see my role as a way of paying that good fortune forward. Family is everything to me, and I carry that value into my work every day — supporting families, working together as a team, and helping each child follow their own path to success.

Every month we profile a different Hear and Say team member — stay tuned for next month's!

17/10/2025

Loud Shirt Day has officially landed at Hear and Say Ashgrove. 🎨👕
Our Business Services team went all out, bold shirts, big smiles, and one of the loudest doors in our centres.
So far, we have raised over $260,000 for kids with hearing loss. There is still time to get LOUD. Donate now at https://www.loudshirtday.org/event/hear-and-say/donate