The first patient to have cochlear implant surgery in a regional Victorian hospital, Mrs Sue Kleinert, has described it as “the best decision ever for me and also my family.”
The mother of six had lived with gradual, long-term hearing loss in both ears for nearly 30 years and initially relied on hearing aids, but as her hearing declined, the devices could no longer keep her connected to the world around her.
Everyday activities had become isolating, and she found herself unable to participate in group conversations and common activities she enjoyed such as family dinners. Phone calls were difficult, and she began to feel increasingly withdrawn and exhausted by the effort of communicating.
On 28 August 2025, Kleinert became the state’s first public cochlear implant recipient to receive her implant outside the metropolitan region, at Goulburn Valley (GV) Health in Shepparton.
She said she was now enjoying conversations and participating in family life without feeling isolated and her specialists were amazed by her progress.
On 27 November 2025, Kleinert returned to the Shepparton hospital to reunite with staff and meet Ms Mary-Anne Thomas, Victorian Health Minister.
Thomas said: “This procedure is a first for regional Victoria – and with collaboration between the Eye and Ear Hospital and Goulburn Valley Health, we can expect it to make a massive difference to locals needing care for hearing issues.
“This service will change lives across regional Victoria, bringing world-class hearing care closer to home and strengthening our public health system for the future.”
The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Eye and Ear) and Goulburn Valley (GV) Health announced the partnership earlier in the year to deliver the rural cochlear implant surgical service.
It means patients in the Goulburn Valley and beyond no longer need to travel to Melbourne for life-changing hearing care, marking a significant step forward in health equity for regional communities.
Under the new model, Eye and Ear credentialled surgeons travel to Shepparton to perform surgeries at GV Health, while local audiologists provide pre-and post-operative care through the Victorian Cochlear Implant Program (VCIP).
This ensures patients receive consistent, multidisciplinary support, wherever they live.
Kleinert said she first learned about cochlear implants through Hearing Australia which referred her to Amplify Hearing Diagnostics in Wangaratta. Despite initial hesitation about the surgery, uncertainties about its effectiveness, and reluctance to travel to Melbourne, her desire to reconnect with family and community overcame her fears.
The option of having the surgery closer to home also influenced her decision to proceed.
She said she was deeply grateful to her surgeon, Dr Richard Kennedy, whose expertise and care had made the procedure possible.
Ms Jaclyn Symes, Member for Northern Victoria, said it was a gamechanger for regional Victoria, and Victorian Premier, Ms Jacinta Allan, said the service would strengthen Victoria’s Cochlear Implant Program, ensuring consistent, multidisciplinary care and professional development for audiologists across the state.
The Eye and Ear said surgeries were now scheduled monthly and demand was expected to grow.
Mr Matt Sharp, GV Health chief executive said the partnership was an important milestone which brought timely and high-quality care closer to home.
He acknowledged the significant contribution of clinical staff and operational teams from GV Health and the Eye and Ear for bringing the service to the Goulburn Valley after two years of hard work.
He said the partnership complemented the statewide VCIP initiative which provides education and ongoing mentoring enabling audiologists across Victoria to better identify, inform and refer patients for cochlear implants. VCIP clinics follow a multidisciplinary pathway for evaluation and recommendation.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to equitable healthcare access and innovation,” said Eye and Ear CEO Mr Brendon Gardner. “By working with GV Health, we’re extending the reach of our Cochlear Implant Clinic and supporting regional communities with world-class hearing solutions.”
Kleinert’s advice to others facing similar challenges is “Don’t hesitate to explore this option – it can be life-changing.”
