Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background (e.g. what and where you studied) and what led you to become an audiologist? Bri: I completed my Bachelor of Science and Master of Audiology at The University of Auckland. I was drawn to audiology because it combines healthcare, technology, and working closely with people and their whānau. I was particularly interested in the impact early intervention has on communication, education, and overall quality of life. This includes acc

“My name is Catherine Wolicki. I am 69 years old, a retired registered nurse, originally from England and now living in New Zealand. I emigrated here in 1998 and am married to Ross. Between us we have a blended family of four daughters – but most of my family is in the UK. I’m going back there for my 70th birthday with my own daughter, Katie, in November and I can’t wait. “I was born deaf and have worn hearing aids since I was five years old. Growing up in England with hearin

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common non-genetic cause of hearing differences in children, and it can also be linked to developmental challenges. Research shows that approximately 1 in every 200 babies are born with CMV after the virus is passed from parent to baby during pregnancy, and yet public awareness remains very low. Screening and access to care can vary widely depending on where in the world a baby is born. This month is CMV Awareness Month and as a pa

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background and what led you to become a Speech Language Therapist? Rachel: I knew that I wanted to work with children from a young age and I was tossing up between medical careers and education careers. Speech therapy was the perfect middle ground for me. Q: Where did you study? Rachel: I have a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy from Massey University in Auckland. I really enjoyed the programme and learned so many valuable lessons fro

Seventy-four-year-old Jan Trim loves riding pillion passenger on her husband’s Moto Guzzi motorbike, going to exercise class and making online photo books. She has had hearing differences for the past 30 years and after a long period of wearing hearing aids, received a cochlear implant in April this year. The great grandmother from Taupō says she can now have a conversation with her husband in the car, which never would have been possible previously. “It’s too good an oppo

Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? My name is Tijo Joseph and I’m a second-year student in the Bachelor of Social Practice – Social Work and Community Development programme at Unitec in Auckland. I’m 35 years old, originally from India, and I spent part of my early life in the United Arab Emirates. I’ve lived in New Zealand for the past eleven years, mainly in Auckland and Wellington. Before studying social work, I trained in pharmacy and worked f

Last week, we brought our Connect & Share sessions to Hamilton for the first time — a significant step in spreading our community connections beyond Auckland. What started as a single session quickly grew. Due to strong interest, we expanded to three groups over two days, welcoming a wide range of more than 20 kiritaki/clients and their whānau. Attendees included a computer science student, a retired teacher, a flautist and a keen bridge player. Across all sessions, there was

“I joined The Hearing House in 2018, and in my role as information and data systems lead, I manage the client database and information systems that support our services. I produce reports that help the organisation track performance and identify potential areas for improvement.\ “I am also the Privacy Officer at The Hearing House, so part of my role is also ensuring that The Hearing House is compliant with data protection laws. I am responsible for managing how personal infor

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your background? Nathan: I’ve been an audiologist with The Hearing House since 2024. I’ve worked in audiology since 2018, after completing my Master of Audiology at University of Auckland. I’m passionate about helping people from all walks of life communicate more effectively. Q: What were you doing before your master’s degree? Nathan: I went straight from my undergrad into my master’s. Before that, I had quite a mix of jobs—working as a sailmak