Hearing Australia – careers with impact

Audiologists SIMONE PUNCH and EMMA PELLING have worked at Hearing Australia for a combined 35 years. They share why they wouldn’t work anywhere else.

Working at Hearing Australia is Emma Pelling’s dream job. She says it’s a workplace driven by purpose, professional development, collaboration and opportunities to grow.

Those opportunities which include varied pathways led her to step into roles she never imagined she could do but resulted in a position she loves.

After several years working as a clinical audiologist in various Hearing Australia centres with adults and complex clients, she took on an acting centre manager role.

“I’d never really thought of myself as someone who would lead people,” she says. “But I was encouraged to try something different, and I really loved it.”

Then, in 2018, Pelling moved into a clinical coach role supporting clinicians across Queensland.

“The role involves wearing lots of different hats,” she says. “I mentor and develop all the clinicians in our region including mentoring experienced clinicians transitioning from other providers, supporting graduates and helping clinicians maintain best practice standards.

“I like to think I’m still helping clients – just indirectly. I help by empowering and encouraging the clinician, who is providing the hands-on service, to be the best clinician they can be. This is my dream job.”

Pelling’s audiology pathway was driven by a desire to help people. She studied psychology at university before spending five years as a research assistant at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT.

“Like many audiologists, I’d always wanted a job where I could help people and feel like I was having a meaningful impact on the community,” she says.

But while she enjoyed research, she wanted more direct interaction. “Over time, I realised I wanted something more hands on, where I was sitting face to face with someone and helping them directly.”

She completed a Master of Audiology at the University of Queensland and joined Hearing Australia as an intern in Brisbane in 2014.

“I’ve been with Hearing Australia ever since,” Pelling says. “I’ve never really thought about going anywhere else – why would I need to?”

A 23-year odyssey

Her colleague, Hearing Australia clinical leader for paediatrics Simone Punch, has had similar positive experiences, having worked for the organisation for more than two decades.

“I was drawn to audiology because I had an undergraduate degree in psychology and wanted to combine that with an interest in working with deaf and hard of hearing adults and children,” she says. “That interest really came from my own lived experience of hearing loss.”

When she began postgraduate audiology studies at the University of Queensland, she realised the profession brought together everything she valued.

“I loved that combination of science and the psychosocial aspects of hearing loss that audiology offers,” Punch says. “I also felt it was a great way to have a positive impact on people’s lives.”

After graduating, she began as an intern at Hearing Australia in regional NSW before later working in Brisbane and in the UK.

One of the strongest themes in both clinicians’ stories is the range of opportunities available within Hearing Australia. Punch’s career evolved from intern to general audiologist, paediatric specialist and now national clinical leader.

“I’ve been in the field for about 28 years now, and 23 of those years have been with Hearing Australia,” she says. “One of the main reasons I’ve stayed so long is that it has given me a varied and challenging career pathway.”

Her time in the UK also shaped her professional direction. Working in the National Health Service during a major transformation of audiology services exposed her to new models of care and training systems.

Later, while working in the paediatric department at London’s Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, she discovered a passion for paediatric care.

“I realised I enjoyed being part of a paediatric multidisciplinary team with specialist paediatricians, counsellors and teachers of the deaf,” Punch says.

“That’s when I knew I wanted to continue working in paediatrics and be involved in early identification, infant fitting and supporting deaf and hard of hearing children, teenagers and young people.”

Returning to Hearing Australia after the UK stint was always part of the plan. She wanted to return, particularly because of the organisation’s strong commitment to evidence based practice and clinical quality.

Training and mentoring

Punch and Pelling stress Hearing Australia’s commitment to professional development is one of its greatest strengths. Punch says support begins from day one. “Hearing Australia offers excellent training and support right from our clinical internship program for new graduates,” she says.

The organisation provides pathways for clinicians wanting to specialise in paediatrics, complex adult care and outreach services. “The specialist training is intensive on the job training – a mixture of coaching, mentoring, observation, workshops and then further coaching as you move into independent practice in that area,” Punch says.

Regional clinicians are often exposed to complex caseloads earlier in their careers. “If you move into a general audiologist role in a regional area, you often have the chance to see more complex populations earlier in your career,” she says.

Pelling says Hearing Australia’s interconnected culture is another major advantage.

“One tricky thing in audiology, particularly for clinicians who’ve come from other providers, is that they might be used to being in a centre on their own, working in a silo,” she says.

“At Hearing Australia, we’re very lucky to have a great network of people at all different experience levels, from new graduates to clinicians who’ve been working in audiology for 40 years.”

Queensland recruits many graduates each year, many of whom relocate to regional centres, she says. “Often it’s, ‘Why don’t you move to Townsville or Rockhampton for two years?’ – enough time to settle into a community and experience it,” Pelling says.

Training combines online learning, face to face coaching and in-clinic mentoring.

“We’ll often go into clinicians’ clinics and work with them there,” Pelling says. “Working with people face to face is always excellent when you can do it.”

National reach a drawcard

Hearing Australia’s scale is another drawcard for clinicians wanting diverse experiences. Punch says the organisation supported more than 260,000 Australians nationally in the last financial year including over 30,000 children with hearing loss under the Community Service Obligations (CSO) program.

Hearing Australia operates close to 180 hearing centres alongside outreach and visiting services.

It is also the sole provider of the CSO program for children, adults with complex hearing needs, and First Nations Outreach services.

“We’re a trusted provider for those complex and often very vulnerable groups,” Punch says. “That paediatric work includes close collaboration with cochlear implant clinics, teachers of the deaf, diagnostic audiology departments and early intervention agencies.

“We work closely with a range of other services to ensure children and their families get the support they need. Our Outreach and Complex Adult specialist services teams also work closely with service providers and agencies that support those groups.”

Hearing Australia also provides hearing services through its Social Purpose Program. The program, funded entirely by the organisation, supports vulnerable people with hearing loss who need hearing aids in their daily life and are ineligible for government funded services.

The organisation’s reach has also allowed Pelling to work across multiple regions. “I’ve worked in northern NSW and also looked after Tasmania for about a year,” she says. “I’ve travelled to places I had never been – you get the chance to see a lot of Australia being part of Hearing Australia.”

Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is another pathway audiologists can explore through programs such as Hearing Australia’s Hearing Assessment Program – Early Ears (HAPEE) and CSO Outreach Program.

“It’s wonderful to work alongside the First Nations support teams including our partnership specialists and specialist clinicians,” Punch says.

Research, evidence and culture

Another major strength, according to both clinicians, is Hearing Australia’s close relationship with its research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL).

“This makes us unique,” Punch says. “It means we can often translate research into clinical practice relatively quickly and be at the forefront of new clinical practices and programs.”

Pelling says clinicians benefit directly from that connection.

“One of the best parts of being in an organisation with a strong research division is that we can see the latest research as it comes out and then translate that into clinical practice,” she says.

“Sometimes you might be reading a paper and think, ‘I’ve got questions about that.’ Then you realise, ‘Hang on, that’s our researcher – I can send them a Teams message and talk to them about it.’”

Clinicians also participate in internal professional development initiatives including national webinars, regional teleconferences and annual face to face training and conference events.

Purpose is the reason

The reason Punch has stayed with Hearing Australia for 23 years comes back to purpose.

“What I like most about working at Hearing Australia is the shared sense of purpose and our commitment to clinical excellence and great outcomes for our clients,” she says. “The people and the clients I work with every day really inspire me.” Pelling echoes that sentiment.

“What makes Hearing Australia different is that we really do have client care at the absolute heart of everything we do,” she says. “We all get out of bed with the intention of helping people.” Both say the organisation rewards curiosity, initiative and openness to growth.

“My advice to anyone considering working for Hearing Australia would be to embrace the opportunities that are available and stay open to learning and growth,” Punch says.

“Because we have a national network and such a variety of services, there’s flexibility to relocate, to work with different populations and to move into areas you’re passionate about.” Pelling offers similar advice.

“If you join Hearing Australia, try as many different things as you can,” she says. “Say yes to opportunities. Be curious. And be open to learning.” 

Read more

Hearing Australia receives Most Trusted Hearing Services Provider award for 2026

PLUM validation study: Brief parent conversation vital to identify if urgent care is needed for OM

Translating research into practice at Hearing Australia’s Innovation Centre