I was a student at university and reached a point where I had to make a decision about my career. Do I continue down the path of research and project management, or find an alternative that would allow me to be more independent? The one thing I was certain about was that I wanted to work with people and help others. Audiology was presented to me as a profession that piqued my interest and aligned with my personal goals. It allowed me to meet and work with different people, use my knowledge to help others solve their problems, and be independent in my work.

When I'm presented with a patient's problem, my instinct is to understand their issues, their frustrations, and how it's affecting them as an individual. Then it's about finding the most appropriate solution for them. Not every patient is the same, so it's critical to be aware of what is required for each and every individual. Placing their needs and goals at the forefront is key to achieving a successful outcome.

Over the years, I've supervised many students and often told them, "You've entered into a niche, specialised career that can sometimes be repetitive and monotonous. But what makes it interesting and challenging are the individuals who walk through the door." Yes, we treat hearing loss-but it's much more than just an audiogram. I'm incredibly fortunate to meet people from all walks of life, each with their own stories and experiences. And I'm lucky to work with a team that shares the same vision and passion.

There are many, but one that stands out is a 95-year-old, legally blind patient who shared how active she was in the arts (sculpting) and in her role as an advocate for several community charities. What frustrated her most was not being heard-literally. Her lack of response to questions or seemingly aloof manner was often misinterpreted as cognitive decline. But she was mentally very sharp and aware of how people saw her. She was determined to overcome her hearing difficulties so she could continue to communicate clearly and stay engaged with others. That determination led to a successful hearing treatment outcome-and was truly inspiring.

By raising community awareness that hearing loss is about more than just not hearing-it's about maintaining independence, connection, and overall wellness.

We truly listen to the patient.

Within our organisation, personal development is strongly encouraged. We take the time to understand what our people are passionate about and support them in growing both professionally and personally. We're leading the way in hearing care-not just by improving hearing, but by enhancing general wellness. Good hearing health improves balance and spatial awareness for better physical wellness. It reduces stress and frustration for better emotional wellness. It builds confidence for improved social wellness. And it can even enhance memory and mental clarity for better cognitive wellness. Ultimately, better hearing leads to better everyday experiences and a better life.

Spending time with my boys-riding dirt bikes and skiing.

I was working as a research scientist in a lab and I found that I was really unhappy and needed to work in a job where I could interact with people and help them directly. My grandmother had a severe hearing loss and I met her audiologist and learnt about the profession and decided that would be an amazing field for me to work in.

My approach is to take the time to listen to the patient and understand their situation. Hearing loss is not just a test result on a page. It is more about how the hearing loss is impacting the individual in their everyday life. What are they missing out on that is important to them? For example, you may have a patient who is a teacher and needs to hear their students in the classroom and their colleagues at staff meetings. Their goals might be very different to a retiree that wants to hear their friends when golfing and their partner when out for coffee. I will then work to find the right solution for their individual hearing needs to achieve their goals. 

I love meeting all different people and caring for their hearing needs over a long period of time. I have clients who have been coming here for more than 10 years. We get to know each other and I genuinely care about their wellbeing not just their hearing needs. I also enjoy that there is no one size fits all approach. As we are independent, I can take the time to find the best solution for the patient and I have multiple brands available to me to find the best option.

I recently had a client who did not have a huge hearing loss, however, he was starting to withdraw from social situations. He was finding it difficult to follow conversations when out for coffee with his wife and their closest friends. He was losing confidence. I fitted the hearing aids and he found they made a profound difference to his life and his overall mental health. His wife said that the minute he put them on, 'the old Barry returned'. He was once again going out and joining in with confidence. They told me his overall demeanor had instantly changed. This reminded me how powerful improving your hearing can be, it's not just about making sound audible, it can improve general health and wellbeing. Connecting with others and conversing with ease is so important.

In my role at Active Audiology, I am also the clinical development manager. In this role,there are two areas we focus on- Patient interaction and technology. We constantly improve how our Audiologists interact with patients. I am making sure that all of our team is aware of the social and emotional impacts of hearing loss and how to discuss this with patients. This is key to moving hearing care forward. We also consider the impact of hearing loss on wellness. For example, hearing loss can impact cognitive health, mental health and our balance. It is also linked with diabetes and cardiovascular health. So we want to work with our patients to build a long term relationship and help improve their quality of life and wellness through hearing care. The second area, technology, is crucial to moving hearing care forward. Hearing devices are tiny little super computers and there is innovation and new technology all the time. As the experts in this field, we need to ensure we stay on top of the changes and what they mean in the real world for our patients.

I want them to know that I will take the time to listen to them and find out how their hearing loss impacts them. We can then work together to find hearing solutions that improve their quality of life and relationships. I will also follow the latest and most ethical practices in providing care to my patients.

I am constantly in communication with our entire team. I ensure that across the board, we have the same attitude towards our patients. We are doing important work in helping people to hear better. We all need to treat our patients with respect, empathy and kindness. This includes our administrative team and our Audiologists. I lead by example ensuring they see these behaviours in me. I also lead by supervising and mentoring University students, attending audiology training and conferences regularly and undertaking professional development.

Outside of work, I enjoy being outdoors in nature, that could be going for a nice walk in the Dandenongs with my family or sitting on the beach and having a swim. I also enjoy going to the theatre and live concerts, music is a big part of my life.