Winner 2010 AAMI NEIS Change Award
Olivia Anderson was having one of her regular hearing tests when she was approached by a mother with tears in her eyes - she had just learned that her baby's hearing was impaired and was desperate for reassurance and support from someone who had experienced hearing loss, that her child would lead a relatively normal life. All she could do was say, "it will be okay. Your daughter will lead a normal life, just like I do!" The idea for Hear for You was born.
Just as Olivia now has a profound impact on the lives of many deaf children and their families, the NEIS program had a profound impact on her life.
"I had no knowledge or experience of running a business," she said, "but the knowledge acquired in NEIS helped me to establish the entity, define the structure of roles and responsibilities and select high-quality mentors with hearing impairment."
"NEIS helped me to put in place effective operations and systems to satisfy both the internal needs of the business and external compliance in relation to accounting, finance and governance regulations."
"Without NEIS, none of these would have been possible. In short, NEIS has enabled me to establish the framework of Hear for You and replicate its program both nationally and internationally."
Hear for You has been a tremendous success and has attracted funding and support of a number of organisations including The Carnegie Foundation and the Cochlear Foundation. The Hon John Howard AC accepted the title of "Patron" to the organisation in May 2010. There is a comprehensive website outlining program and through which donations can be received - the address is www.hearforyou.org.au.
Olivia has great dedication to the deaf community, and shows that when NEIS touches one life, it actually touches many.