Page 2661 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Technological responses to hearing impairment have continued to improve over the years, but the day-to-day reality of managing can be challenging. Hearing aids have gotten smaller as technology has improved, yet the manual dexterity of an older person does not necessarily make it easier to manage those hearing impairment devices. Computer technology and the increasing reliance on email and social media have probably assisted those who are deaf but it remains the case that verbal communication is a primary mode of workplace communication.
The disability of hearing impairment is often an invisible one and those who are affected might feel that they always have to remind people so they can communicate better. The example Ms Lawder related of the hotel in Sydney where her friend attempted to stay and the challenges there is perhaps a perfect example of that very point.
Yet if the community has a higher awareness of how a hearing loss impacts someone, there are many simple things that they can do to make it easier for a person with a hearing impairment. Speaking to someone face on and not from behind improves the sound quality and enables the possibility of lip reading. Speaking just a bit louder and more slowly can help, and that is not much to ask if it can make a positive difference. Facilitating meetings so there is a speaking list and people are not speaking over each other is another practical consideration. Hearing loss is one of the things that is likely to impact all of us as we get older and as our families get older. As Ms Lawder’s motion highlights, more and more of us will be affected as our population ages.
In thinking about the role of government, the ACT government does have a number of steps in place, and no doubt there is more that can be done as more consideration is given to this issue. The ACT government provides a free nurse audiometry service for children over 18 months and adults for hearing screening tests. I am pleased to hear about the initiative to install special smoke alarms for hearing impaired and deaf people in the community who are identified as being at risk given that normal alarms simply emit a noise.
Having had the discussion about employment opportunities, the ACT government needs to keep thinking about this. The government has had the employment strategy for people with a disability in place over the past five years. Now it has set a target for increasing employment inclusion, a target that is being managed by the directors-general, of 3.4 per cent of the workforce by 2019. That is a very practical and focused strategy that really looks at the outcomes we are trying to achieve.
I thank Ms Lawder for bringing the motion today and for the opportunity to reflect on the issues and discuss them here in the chamber. I thank my interpreter for today, and I hope that Hearing Awareness Week is a great success in further raising these issues in the community’s consciousness.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: I thank Ms Dolejsi for being part of this activity. I think it is one of the earliest occasions when we have utilised an interpreter and it has worked exceptionally well. Thank you and I am glad there were only three speakers—perhaps.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video