Celebrating our partnerships

The Hearing House is recognised as a leader in clinical best practice, innovation, research, and training. We continually strengthen our expertise to meet the evolving needs of tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau who are deaf or hard of hearing.

We foster a connected community of children, young people, adults, partners, and supporters who share knowledge and experiences to empower each person on their hearing journey. Collaboration is central to our model of care, and we work with a network of organisations on shared initiatives that enhance sector-wide outcomes.

Our strong research culture is built in partnership with kiritaki and their whānau. We are proud collaborators with the University of Auckland and other institutions and sector groups, supporting research, hosting student placements — including international students where possible — and contributing to teaching through guest lectures and sector-wide presentations. Our team also delivers professional development for audiologists and allied professionals across the country.

Through this collaborative, education-focused approach, we build shared capability and deliver inclusive, world-class services.

Our list of partners is by no means exhaustive but includes Deaf Aotearoa, Your Way | Kia Roha, University of Auckland, Ko Taku Reo, First Voice, the Painga Project, Enable New Zealand, Massey University, NZSL Board, Southern Cross Gillies Hospital, Parents of Deaf Children Auckland, ACC, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Veterans’ Affairs, Ministry of Education, and Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children.

Representatives from two of these organisations – Deaf Aotearoa and NZSL Board – spoke at our recent Power of Connection event in Parliament. Both Natasha Cloete (manager of Youth & Children at Deaf Aotearoa) and NZSL Board chair Catherine Greenwood referenced the depth and value of our partnerships, through shared strategy, aspirations, attitude – and physical space. Here’s an extract from their addresses:

As further evidence of the powerful and rewarding potential that comes from our partnerships, we’re delighted that Natasha (Tash) Shallita, a Senior Listening and Spoken Language Specialist at The Shepherd Centre in Sydney, will be joining us on a secondment as an early intervention Speech Language Therapist next month. Tash has spent most of her professional life working in paediatric hearing loss and cochlear implantation and is keen to both share her skills and expertise, and learn from us in an Aotearoa New Zealand clinical setting.

The Shepherd Centre is one of the member organisations of First Voice, a long-standing consortium of international organisations that provide listening and spoken language early intervention services for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.