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Deafness Foundation

Deafness Foundation. Presentation Better Hearing Australia Annual General Meeting 5 Sept 2006 Wendy Maher. Who are we?. The Deafness Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1973 by the Hon. Peter Howson to act as an umbrella organisation, forum,

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Deafness Foundation

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  1. Deafness Foundation Presentation Better Hearing Australia Annual General Meeting 5 Sept 2006 Wendy Maher

  2. Who are we? The Deafness Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1973 by the Hon. Peter Howson to act as an umbrella organisation, forum, information exchange and to speak with a united voice for the Deaf and hearing impaired in the Community

  3. The Deafness Foundation is dedicated to the support of the Deaf and hearing impaired in the community through Research, Prevention, Education, Early Detection and Technology

  4. The Foundation’s objectives: To promote communication and understanding between all agencies and individuals involved in the field of hearing impairment To provide financial and other assistance to people with hearing impairment and to organisations working in the field of hearing impairment To promote research into all aspects of hearing impairment and its prevention and into the needs of people with hearing impairment

  5. Objectives continued To acquire and publish information and to undertake community education programs about hearing impairment, its prevention and the needs of people with hearing impairment To work in conjunction with other state, national and international organisations with similar objectives To raise funds to support the activities of the Foundation

  6. Objectives continued To represent the interests of people with hearing impairment at individual, community, municipal, semi-government and government (both State and Federal) levels To maintain an administrative structure to support the activities of the Foundation

  7. To achieve the objectives of the Foundation, working committees consisting of experts in their respective fields have been established These committees are very active in embracing the needs of the Deaf and hearing impaired

  8. What committees are there? Auslan Conductive Deafness Education Fundraising Grants Hearing Awareness Noise Induced Hearing Loss Medical / Audiological President’s Auxiliary Rubella Technology

  9. What do the committees do? Conductive Deafness: This committee focuses on raising community awareness and educating the public about the potential damaging effects of Conductive Deafness in young childrenthrough the provision of information, encouraging research and representing this group of children at Government level whenever possible

  10. Committees continued Education: The committee sees it role as one of disseminating information, providing support on all issues which arise concerning deaf education and contributing to public awareness of the needs of deaf students

  11. Committees continued Grants: The objective of this Committee is to assess, financially support and monitor projects undertaken for the benefit of Deaf and hearing impaired people and to support programs focused on the prevention of deafness. This is an Australian wide initiative Applications for consideration for a Financial Grant close on 31 October each year and are distributed in February of the following year

  12. Committees continued Hearing Awareness Week: The Hearing Awareness Committee coordinate Hearing Awareness Week. The overall aim is to provide information to support the Deaf and hearing impaired, inform the hearing community about a particular theme and raise community awareness of the issues and needs that exist

  13. Committees continued Medical/Audiological: This committee is concerned with ensuring medical, nursing and educational professionals and parents are made aware of and continually updated on the technical advances being made into the care of the hearing impaired The Committee plays an important role in providing input to Government and semi-government authorities on issues relating to hearing Health Care

  14. Committees continued Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: The Committee endeavours to take all steps, legislative or otherwise, to ensure the public is not unnecessarily subjected to excessive noise and that measures are in place to protect hearing To this end, it is in constant contact with bodies such as the Occupational Health and Safety Authority and the Standards Council

  15. Committees continued Rubella: The Rubella Committee is dedicated to ensuring all women of child-bearing age receive vaccination to prevent the onset of Rubella This Committee is most active in pressing Government into an understanding of this vital issue, because it is at this level, both state and local, that action is urgently required

  16. Committees continued Technical: As with all progressive organisations, the Foundation has a need to constantly monitor changes in technology as they affect the hearing impaired. This is the role of the Technology Committee

  17. More about the Foundation Patron is Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Governed by a Board of Management comprising 16 members Employs 5 part time staff (EFT 2.2) and is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers Has one funded position (Rubella Education Officer) and depends on fundraising, donations, bequests, grants etc. to continue to provide and develop new opportunities to support the Deaf and hearing impaired community

  18. The Butterfly The Butterfly was adopted as the Foundation’s logo after a volunteer, Judy Chancellor discovered that Butterflies are deaf too! They are beautiful, admired and lead a full and interesting life and above all communicate Judy had a vision that the butterfly could assist the Foundation in its quest to raise funds and increase community awareness of deafness and hearing impairment Thus the Butterfly Badge was ‘born” in 1994 The success of the Butterfly Badge Campaign has grown over many years and become the major source of funds to support the Foundation and its Financial Grants Scheme

  19. Deafness Foundation Trust The Trust was launched in October 1993 with similar aims to the Foundation but with three significant factors: • All donations are held in perpetuity and the interest only is used for Grants allocations • Has the right to fundraise and make financial grants available outside Victoria • Administered by the Trust Company of Australia

  20. More about the Trust The Trust is governed by two Boards: • The Trust Advisory Board • comprising eminent individuals who lend their names and assist with contacts but are not expected to attend more that a meeting a year • The Trust Awards Board • comprising eminent individuals who can spare the time to develop and implement marketing strategies to attract bequests and enlarge the capital base of the Trust

  21. About the Foundation’s Fundraising The Butterfly Badge Campaign is the major ongoing fundraising initiative of the Foundation in Victoria and through the Trust is an Australian wide project which commenced in 1994 Sales are made possible through the network of schools, organisations providing services to the Deaf and hearing impaired, audiologists, hearing centres, individuals etc. We are very fortunate to have the support of IGA stores which enables us to sell badges throughout the month of May at their Victorian stores

  22. About the Financial Grants Scheme Applications are invited for Financial Grants from the Deafness Foundation if residing in Victoria or the Deafness Foundation Trust if residing interstate Closing date for Applications is 31 October each year Applications and guidelines can be downloaded from our website www.deafness.org.au or obtained from the office Considerations will be given only to those projects which have a demonstrated potential to further the stated objectives of the Deafness Foundation

  23. Grants continued • Other criteria that may result in a positive outcome include: • That the project is innovative and not a request for recurrent funding of an established program • The demonstrated inability of the project to attract funding from an alternate source • The project had clearly defined goals, achievable in a clearly specified time, usually not more than two years

  24. Grants continued • The project has clearly defined, inbuilt assessment criteria, by which progress can be monitored and reported • That the organisation applying for a grant has a proven ability to manage funds (the ability to supply an ABN number would be an advantage • Consideration of applications received after closing date will be deferred until the following year • It is important that costs be established accurately in the original grant

  25. Grants continued • Projects to the value of $133,000 have been funded in the past twelve months and include: • Information brochures on Conductive Deafness • Inclusive Classroom listening • Deaf Expo • Purchase of laptop/voice recognition software and technical support • Reading texts translated in Auslan • Meniere’s Research Survey • The Glendonald Speech Teaching Resource • Makaton workshop • Auslan Interpreting Mentorship Project • Objective Assessment of Hearing in Babies • Transition Camp for Deaf and hearing impaired students…….and more….

  26. Education Encouragement Awards These awards aim to encourage deaf and hearing impaired students by recognising their commitment and effort Two awards to coincide with Hearing Awareness Week in late August are made available to deaf and hearing impaired students: • Secondary School Award: $1,000 open to students in years 10,11 & 12 • Post-secondary award: $1,5000 open to students enrolled in post Secondary studies Applicants must be permanent residents of Australia

  27. Resources available include: Books for sale: $5 each plus postage “Savvy” are delightful stories about a young boy with a Cochlear Implant

  28. Resources available include: Books for sale: $10 each plus postage “Are you being heard” Information and Teaching Tips for teachers of students with a hearing impairment

  29. Resources available include: • Rubella • Pamphlet: • Information to raise awareness about the risks of rubella infection during pregnancy and promote appropriate vaccination strategies (available in 18 languages) • Video: • “The risks to your unborn baby” ($10 each available in 10 languages) • Rubella Poster: • “The risk to your unborn baby” available in 5 languages

  30. Resources available include: • Brochures • Fluctuating Conductive Deafness • “They can’t hear you when they want to!” – available in 6 languages • Teachers! Can your pupils hear you?” – English only • Noise Induced Hearing Loss • “Is Loud Noise Ruining Your Hearing?”

  31. Resources available include: • Posters • Decibel Range • Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow • Don’t turn a Deaf Ear • Childhood Fluctuating Conductive Deafness

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