PROGRAM

Get ready for the Audiology Australia Online Conference – two dynamic half-days of learning, connection, and inspiration.

Join us live on Thursday 23 October (3:30–8:00pm AEDT) and Friday 24 October (11:00am–3:30pm AEDT). Your registration gives you full access to every session across both days – plus the flexibility to catch up later.

All content will be available on demand until 18 January 2026, so you can watch, rewatch, and claim your CPD points at a time that suits you.

All times are listed in AEDT (ACT/NSW/TAS/VIC). For more information on CPD points for the Online Conference, please click here.

Thursday 23 October 2025

Time (AEDT)	Details	Speaker/s
1530 - 1535	Welcome and Introduction
1535 - 1605	Objective assessment of tinnitus using brain imaging Currently there is no objective measure of tinnitus that can be used clinically. Clinical assessment of the condition uses subjective feedback from individuals, which is not always reliable and is prone to placebo effects. We have shown sensitivity of a non-invasive brain imaging technique called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to detecting tinnitus presence and severity.Our overall aim is to develop objective measures of tinnitus to identify the presence and severity of the condition and identify subtypes of tinnitus based on underlying neural activity. Such measures are a critical step in developing new treatments and monitoring patients’ treatment progress.	A/Prof Mehrnaz Shoushtarian, Bionics Institute
1605 - 1630	National Railway Standards: What the new hearing guidelines mean for Audiologists Recent updates to the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers have brought notable changes to the audiological guidelines used for assessing workers in safety-critical rail roles. In this session, Dr Barbra Timmer will outline the key revisions, explain their implications for audiologists, and highlight how these updates affect clinical testing and reporting requirements.	Dr Barbra Timmer, The University of Queensland
1630 - 1730	Details coming soon!
1730 - 1800	Networking & Break
1800 - 1900	Who Do You Tell about Your Hearing Loss? A New Model for Understanding Stigma related to Hearing Loss This presentation will provide an overview of findings from a large, multi-method study that investigated how stigma is experienced by adults with acquired hearing loss and their families, how they manage it in everyday life, and how these experiences relate to the decision to try hearing aids and to wear them in the long-term. The implications for audiology clinical practice will be discussed.	Dr Katie Ekberg, Flinders University
1900 - 2000	DIY audiology at home: adults are interested in conducting self-administered hearing tests and trying fit-at-home hearing aids Could home-based hearing tests and fit-at-home hearing aids transform how services are delivered? This presentation shares findings from a large UK survey of more than 2,000 adults, exploring public attitudes toward at-home hearing solutions. Discover what people see as the benefits and barriers, how preferences shift across different age groups, and what this could mean for the future of sustainable, accessible hearing care.	Prof Kevin Munro, University of Manchester

Friday 24 October 2025

Time (AEDT)	Details	Speaker/s
1100 - 1105	Welcome and Introduction
1105 - 1200	ANCHOR: collecting, connecting and transforming child hearing health information into a Learning Health System The Australian National Child Hearing Health Outcomes Registry (ANCHOR) aims to collect and connect child hearing health information to drive service improvements and create a pipeline for research discoveries. ANCHOR’s vision is to give all deaf and hard of hearing children the best opportunities to reach their full potential and live healthy, fulfilled lives. ANCHOR’s Phase One (2023-2025) program aims to establish the prerequisites of a national database through: 1) Environmental scanning of Australia’s child hearing health services and datasets; 2) Developing a prototype data system spanning two states; 3) Establishing a national Core Outcomes Set to ensure ANCHOR measures what matters to stakeholders; and 4) Estimating costs and benefits of ANCHOR.	A/Prof Valerie Sung, Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital
1200 - 1300	Flying Colours - a one-stop resource for families as they navigate a new world with a DHH child For parents who have received a diagnosis that their child is deaf or hard of hearing, it can be difficult to know where to go or what to do next and can feel overwhelming. Flying Colours helps to change this. The online resource provides a wealth of information, stories from parents with a lived experience, stories from DHH young people about growing up deaf, research articles, useful links, downloadable articles and a service finder all in one place, designed to help parents navigate a new world. Our presentation will cover an overview of Flying Colours - how we developed the resource, why and what the website covers. Plus, a summary of the recent initiatives that have resonated with clearly identified cohorts. Tamara Trinder-Scacco & Stacey Johnson will share their lived experience of navigating their world with a DHH child and tell their stories during the presentation.	Sarah Brennan, Tamara Trinder-Scacco & Stacey Johnson, Deaf Children Australia
1300 - 1330	Networking & Break
1330 - 1430	Higher-order vestibular processing: Impaired vestibular perception as a hidden cause of imbalance Vestibular perception is functionally relevant but difficult to assess in the clinic. However, increasing evidence suggests that some balance problems could be due to the impaired perception of vestibular input. Studies have identified a sub-set of patients with normal peripheral vestibular function who have increased thresholds for perception of linear and angular motion. This phenomenon has been coined “vestibular neglect” or “vestibular agnosia”. This presentation will review current knowledge on the mechanisms and patient characteristics underlying poor vestibular perception, and its functional implications. Results of a recent study will also be presented.	Dr Rachael Taylor, The University of Auckland
1430 - 1530	Genetic conditions and hearing loss Our understanding of hearing and hearing loss at the molecular level has significantly advanced, revealing complex biological mechanisms behind hearing impairment. Genetic hearing loss exhibits considerable diversity, with numerous genes harbouring various mutations, where specific ones in a single gene can cause either syndromic or non-syndromic hearing loss. Certain mutations are more prevalent in specific ethnic groups. Molecular diagnosis is expected to expand further, encompassing more mutations and genes. There is Medicare rebate for genomic testing and copy number variant analysis of some genes known to be causative or likely causative of childhood hearing loss. Genetic analysis for hearing loss is primarily used for diagnosis and treatment, and less often considered in reproductive planning. Clinicians and laboratory professionals face a continuous challenge in staying current with the rapidly evolving field of hearing loss genetics.	Dr Gargi Pathak, Genetic Health Western Australia