An audiologist who co-invented the speech processor for cochlear implants, an ENT surgeon, an interpreter who established the National Relay Service, a NextSense volunteer, and a philanthropist were honoured in the 2026 King’s Birthday List.
Melbourne audiologist Emeritus Professor Richard Dowell, Sydney otolaryngologist Professor Raymond Sacks, Auslan pioneer interpreter John Flynn, NextSense president David Dinte, and NextSense and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute philanthropist Janet Calvert-Jones were recognised for their outstanding contributions.
Those recognised in Australia’s hearing care sector were:
Emeritus Professor Richard Dowell was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the general division for distinguished service to audiology, to the development of the cochlear implant for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and to tertiary education.
Prof Dowell has been involved in clinical work and research in cochlear implants for more than 40 years. He was the audiologist who managed the first patient to receive a commercial multi-channel cochlear implant in 1982 when the university became the main test centre.
Prof Dowell is Emeritus Professor, Audiology and Speech Science, The University of Melbourne, where he has had a 46 year tenure in audiology and speech science.
He has been director of audiology at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital for 25 years, founded the hospital’s Cochlear Implant Clinic in 1985, and is a senior consultant there.
Other significant achievements have included studies leading to the development of signal processing improvements for cochlear implants; key contributions to the FDA approval of cochlear implants for adults (1985) and children (1990); initiation of the transition of the Graduate Diploma in Audiology (one year) training in clinical audiology to a two year Master’s degree across Australia (1998); and development of professional training in speech pathology at the University of Melbourne (2011).
At the university he was Professor of Audiology, 2001-2013, Associate Professor, 1995-2001, lecturer in audiology, 1991-1995, and research audiologist, Department of Otolaryngology, 1980-1989.
Prof Dowell has been chairperson of Taralye Early Intervention Centre for Hearing Impaired Children (now NextSense) in Melbourne since 2001, is a board member of the Graeme Clark Foundation, director of Hearnet, and former chair of the Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program Audiological Committee.
An Emeritus member and Fellow of Audiology Australia, he is also a member of its University Accreditation and Competency Committee.
His 169 publications have netted nearly 30,000 reads on ResearchGate and 8,661 citations.
Professor Raymond SACKS from Woollahra NSW was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to otolaryngology, to clinical training, to tertiary education, and to governance roles.
The vice-president of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is also a clinical professor of surgery at Macquarie University, and its head of otolaryngology.
He is clinical professor and head of discipline of ENT surgery at Sydney Medical School, the University of Sydney.
Prof Sacks is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS), was president from 2022-2024, and has been the Federal Department of Health and Ageing ENT Representative on its Panel of Clinical Experts since 2008.
He was the head of otolaryngology at Concord General Hospital, chief examiner in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery for RACS from 2012-2014 and was the chair of the full court of examiners for RACS from 2021-2025. He was the president of the Australian and New Zealand Rhinologic Society from 2008-2013.
Prof Sacks has been a keynote speaker and invited faculty on courses in 32 countries , is on the editorial board of multiple journals and has published more than 200 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals as well as co-authored 23 book chapters.
Prof Sacks has received multiple awards and medals including the RACS Academy of Surgical Educators Award for Educator of the Year 2020, the ASOHNS Medal for Distinguished Service in the Science and Art of Otolaryngology in 2013, the RACS Medal for Outstanding Service to the Court of Examiners in 2014, the NSW RACS medal for Distinguished Service to Surgery in 2017 , the Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation medal for 2018, and in 2021 became the first Australian ENT surgeon to be awarded honorary life membership of the European Rhinology Society in its 50 year history .
A pioneer in Australia’s interpreting profession, John Flynn received the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the General Division for distinguished service to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, to equality and accessibility, and to Auslan training and education.
Flynn recently retired after 75 years of service to Australia’s Deaf community. He has held leadership roles in Deaf societies in Victoria and New South Wales.
During his career, Flynn saw a need for Deaf people to use Auslan interpreting for their access and was instrumental in driving Auslan interpreting to the point of ensuring that the profession was accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Flynn was instrumental in getting Deaf Sign Language accepted by Australian government authorities as a community language and was also involved in helping to establish interpreter courses at TAFE in Victoria.
Flynn was executive director and secretary of Expression Australia (formerly Deaf Society of Victoria) from 1968-1993 and he established the first TTY Relay Service which became the National Relay Service.
He also helped established the HEAR Service, secured national recognition and Victorian Ministry of Education recognition for Auslan and introduced a playgroup program and the conversing with deaf people course.
He held leading positions in the Deaf Society of NSW, the Royal South Australian Deaf Society in Adelaide, and the Australian Federation of Deaf Societies among others.
He and is a life member of The Australian Sign Language Interpreters’ and Translators’ Association, recognised with its Annual JW Flynn Orator Award.
Flynn, who has written five books, was a National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Board Member and Expert in “Deaf Languages” in the 1980s and an examiner and the Inaugural Chair, Panel for Auslan/English interpreters accreditation tests.
David Dinte, NextSense president and life member, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his significant service to the not-for-profit sector.
He recently celebrated 25 years of service to NextSense, having donated his time and expertise since joining its board in 2000. In 2009, he was appointed a vice president and in 2019 he became president.
His business acumen is underpinned by extensive experience in commercial, retail, industrial and residential property development, acquisition and management in Australia and the United States.
Dinte said it was a great honour to be acknowledged for his contributions to people with hearing and vision loss through his longstanding service to NextSense.
“Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to see the impact NextSense has on the close to 11,000 families across Australia that we help who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision,” he said in a media release.
NextSense chief executive Chris Rehn congratulated Dinte on the “outstanding achievement” for his “selfless dedication” and thanked him for his visionary leadership during a period of transformative growth for NextSense.
“Over the past quarter-century, David has made exceptional personal and professional contributions to our organisation, helping to shape our strategic priorities,” Rehn said.
“As president, he has grown and evolved our service offering, expanding our reach and influence. His leadership in property development and financial management has also been instrumental in helping us to grow our physical footprint – from opening our centre for innovation at Macquarie Park to spearheading more new sites across New South Wales and Victoria.
“David has been pivotal in ensuring our 165-year-old organisation can continue to redefine what’s possible for people with hearing and vision loss well into the future.”
Highest honour for Janet Calvert-Jones
Janet Calvert-Jones was one of only five recipients this year of the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest award in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Mrs Calvert-Jones was recognised for eminent service to philanthropy, the arts, medical research organisations, the community and children and youth.
It follows her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2006.
NextSense said she was instrumental in establishing NextSense’s hearing services for children in Victoria – previously known as Taralye early intervention centre in Blackburn – in the 1960s and was a passionate, longtime supporter of the organisation.
“We are so grateful for Janet’s incredible generosity, dedication and support and congratulate her on this well-deserved honour,” NextSense said.
Her mother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, established the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute with Professor David Danks AO. Mrs Calvert-Jones and the Calvert-Jones Foundation have supported MCRI.
Read more
The University of Melbourne celebrates 50 years of outstanding audiology education
Deaf Connect celebrates John Flynn’s 75 years of service to the Deaf community
Cochlear implant milestones celebrated at Professor Graeme Clark’s 90th birthday
