Australasian College of Audiometry (AuCA) staff discuss career paths, specialised areas, and benefits of regional work in Australia.
There’s high demand for long-term hearing care services in regional area nationwide, says audiologist and Australasian College of Audiometry (AuCA) lecturer, Ms Katie Lian.
“Clientele there are in need of hearing support across all ages but find themselves seeing a different clinician every year due to staff relocating back to metropolitan areas,” she says. “Many of our audiometry students are already serving these communities daily and are eager to take on the role of permanent clinicians.
“For those wanting to enter the industry as audiometrists, there are more opportunities in the retail (hearing device) industry that need to be filled.”
AuCA CEO Mr Chedy Kalach agrees and says some regional practices find it easier to upskill a staff member from the area through the diploma offered by AuCA rather than trying to find someone already qualified.
“This is a win-win for the practice, staff members and the community. Many of our students are career changers entering the industry,” he says.
Some clinics offer traineeships to potential new employees to become an audiometrist, says Ms Heather Joseph, AuCA’s general manager. “This can form part of the wages package offered, or reimbursement of fees on completion of their diploma in combination with supervision,” she says.
“It may be coupled with an agreement for the newly trained audiometrist to stay with the clinic or for a predetermined time after their Qualified Practitioner (QP) number is gained.
“This can be an especially attractive option for regional clinics, however some metro clinics also offer similar programs.”
Lian says clinicians in metropolitan and regional areas encounter a diverse range of populations and ear conditions, enriching their experience and expertise.
“While metropolitan roles can be competitive due to audiologists and audiometrists being eligible, regional areas may offer stronger interdisciplinary networks, providing clinicians with more networking opportunities and reassurance about client care,” she says.
“Regional settings may also have more opportunities for autonomous clinical work, though this can vary by clinic.”
Audiometry is seeing exciting growth in specialised areas, Lian adds, particularly cerumen microsuction and occupational noise assessment clinics. “For clinicians seeking fulfilling roles beyond the traditional retail setting, these niches offer the opportunity to provide highly sought-after services to a diverse clientele,” she says.
Joseph says the college is seeing increased interest from health screeners in occupational noise assessment who want to upskill and gain knowledge in audiometry.
“I believe this trend will continue as noisy industries are held accountable for protecting their workers from the risk of hearing loss,” she says. “This will in turn create greater community awareness around noise, risks of hearing loss and hopefully relieve some of the associated stigma.”
Lian says despite a significant need for clinicians to address widespread ear health issues among First Nations people in remote areas, meeting this demand necessitates a sensitive understanding of community cultures.
“AuCA is supporting this critical need for improved hearing healthcare access for First Nations people through regular delivery of the HLT47415 Certificate IV in Audiometry,” she says.
“This program specifically supports First Nations individuals who are already delivering essential health services within their communities. Training is expertly guided by experienced audiologists and trainers, Janette and Eliza Brazel, whose deep community knowledge is invaluable to this initiative.”
Kalach says the ageing population, skills shortage of audiologists and demand for audiometrists will naturally increase, particularly in regional areas.
“The audiology landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, fuelled by increasing public awareness campaigns focused on social inclusion and accessibility for individuals with hearing loss,” Lian adds. “It’s likely that clinicians who embrace and readily adopt these technological innovations will flourish in this evolving field.”
Lian says exciting innovations such as Auracast, 3D imaging, the growing popularity of hearables, and the integration of AI in hearing devices promise a future with greater accessibility, more streamlined clinical appointments, and potentially improved client outcomes.
“Despite the transformative potential of these technologies, I believe the crucial role of hearing care professionals in triaging and educating a broader population remains indispensable,” she adds.
Kalach says that while Jobs and Skills Australia doesn’t report on audiometrists separately, it’s safe to say there’s a shortage across Australia that corresponds with a skills shortage for audiologists.
“As the hearing aid industry expands so will the need for qualified professionals,” Joseph adds. “This, I believe, will be a mix of audiologists and audiometrists.
“According to Grand View Research, in 2024, Australia’s audiology devices market was valued at $346 million and is expected to reach $496 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2% from 2025 to 2030. Hearing aids are the largest and fastest-growing segment in this market.”
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Ms Katie Lian is a Melbourne audiologist who also works as a trainer/educator with the Australasian College of Audiometry (AuCA). Mr Chedy Kalach is AuCA’s managing director and Ms Heather Joseph is AuCA’s general manager.
