The Hear For You Organisation
Hear For You is a place like no other – it’s a place where young people with cochlear implants and/or hearing aids can hang out amongst other deaf peers, have lots of fun and make lots of friends. As young hearing impaired adults, we understand the challenges that young people can experience.
We have developed workshops where we bring groups of teenagers with varying levels of hearing loss together to realise that deafness is more a “difference” than a disadvantage. We aim to show these teenagers that they are not alone, to inspire them, and to share hints and tips on how to deal with all the obstacles that come with being hearing impaired.
Our mission is to work as role models, giving young people someone to share their experiences with, even when it feels like no one else understands. Our mentors are here to help them get the best out of their hearing loss, to realise their dreams and live life to the full. We’re here to help and that’s why we’re Hear For You!
Background Information
Hear For You is an award-winning, not for profit organisation that runs a series of no cost dynamic workshops for deaf and hearing impaired teens aged 11-18 in Australia and New Zealand. It was set up by then 27-year-old
Olivia Andersen (nee Gemmell)
who has profound hearing loss. Her own real-life experience gives her the ability to understand the issues associated with deafness. It adds an extra dimension that makes Hear For You accessible to young people with cochlear implants and/or hearing aids.
The Hear For You programs draw on Olivia’s Churchill Fellowship experience from existing mentoring and leadership programs for deaf teenagers in the USA, United Kingdom and Scandinavia.
Our mentors have been involved with mentoring young deaf people in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand, a number of whom experience significant challenges in social and work situations.
Our offices are located in Sydney and Melbourne. Hear For You has the goal of replication across the major capital cities in Australia within three years. Hear For You has also licensed The Hearing House, a self-funded organisation in New Zealand to use its mentoring programs in Auckland.
For reference, testimonials from deafness-related organisations, parents and hearing impaired teenagers have been provided.
Strategic Direction
Vision: For all young people who are deaf to reach their potential in life.
Mission: Mentor and inspire young people who are deaf through evidence based programs and services that are accessible to all.
Values: Professionalism, Inclusive, Enthusiasm, Ethical, Experience, Progressive.
Strategic Goal: Provide Hear For You services to young people who are deaf and hearing impaired across Australia over three years.
Objectives:
1. Deliver quality programs in over four Australian States by 2014
2. Develop operational and long term funding to meet growth targets
3. Be the first point of contact for issues relating to mentoring young people who are deaf
4. Continually improve service delivery and management systems and policies
Publications
The Hear For You 2010 - 2011 Annual Report (PDF 2.6 meg) is now available for download
