our history

Hear and Say is one of the leading Paediatric Auditory-Verbal and cochlear implant centres in the world, teaching children who are deaf to listen and speak since 1992.

For 20 years it has provided a family based program recognising the parent as the natural language teacher for their child.

The birth of Hear and Say

The Hear and Say Centre for deaf children was founded by Dr Dimity Dornan. The Centre officially opened on 6 July, 1992. The title, Hear and Say, was chosen specifically to emphasise that children who are hearing impaired can learn to listen and to speak. The butterfly, which is unable to hear, was eventually chosen as the symbol of the new centre and six initial families were offered Auditory-Verbal services without charge.

 

Click here to read Dimity's Story. Dimity also shares her thoughts regarding the steps in establishing the Hear and Say Centre and success factors

 

Provided below is a summary of major events across Hear and Say's 20 years and counting.

 

4 October 2012 The Toowoomba Centre celebrates the expansion into slightly larger premises at a Loud Shirt Day event with local families and supporters.

A very small 'mini' centre opens one day a fortnight in Townsville to help meet local demand for Auditory-Verbal Therapy and audiology.

25 September 2012  Hear and Say holds its first group tour of the site at Ashgrove. This is a major milestone for Hear and Say as it provided the first opportunity to present the vision for the future to over 50 donors and supporters.

September 2012 Charlie is the first child in Australia to receive a waterproof cochlear implant. 

August 2012  Chris McCarthy is announced as Chief Executive Officer of Hear and Say and Dimity takes the role of Executive Director and Founder.
Dimity retains her role on the Hear and Say Board. 

6 July 2012 Hear and Say celebrates 20 years at an event at Government House Queensland hosted by Her Excellency Penelope Wensley, Queensland Governor and Hear and Say Patron.
This was followed by a series of events during the month at each Hear and Say Centre with families, graduates, supporters and employees.

March 2012 Hear and Say officially owns the land and a run-down set of buildings at Nathan Avenue Ashgrove (Ithaca).
A new home for Hear and Say's Global Headquarters and a new future for deaf children made possible with a grant of $2M from the State Government.

October 2011 Li Cunxin, author of Mao’s Last Dancer officially launches the Hear and Say  Foundation Committee that will assist Hear and Say to raise the $10 million needed for the purchase and development of Hear and Say's new Global Headquarters.

August 2011 Hear and Say announces plans to build a new global headquarters in inner Brisbane. Her Excellency Penelope Wensley, Queensland Governor and Hear and Say Patron officially announces Hear and Say plans to build a new Global Headquarters in inner Brisbane.

July 2011 Hear and Say obtains a grant of $2 million from the Qld Government towards purchase of a new home.
Numbers of children continue to grow, reaching in excess of 500. 

October 2010 Hear and Say becomes a member of First Voice. 
A small Toowoomba centre opens to meet local demand in the Darling Downs region.
 
5 November 2008  Hear and Say IHear Innovation (later to change to Research & Innovation) launches as a non-profit medical research organisation specialising in innovative hearing research with a neuroscience, paediatric and biotechnology focus. Total child numbers across all centres has grown to over 200.
 
24 October 2007 Hear and Say WorldWide launches - a world-first Hearing Health Team Education Program for establishing multi-disciplinary healthcare teams and a clinical professional training program to prevent, identify and treat hearing loss in babies and young children nationally and in selected international destinations.

2006 Dimity Dornan becomes Managing Director of Hear and Say

Due to lack of room at the Auchenflower Centre staff move administrative and some clinical services to rooms at Rivercity (down the road from the Auchenflower main centre).

Hear and Say now supports 169 children and families throughout Queensland.

By December of this year Newborn Hearing Screening is completely rolled out across all Queensland.
 
2005 St Gabriels is assimilated into Hear and Say so that the deaf children in this program have greater access to the Hear and Say Auditory-Verbal Therapy program.
 
2004 Hear and Say now supports 125 children and families throughout Queensland.

November 2004 A purpose built Gold Coast centre opens thanks to support of local businesses.

6 May 2004  Sunshine Coast centre opens with support from local organisations many of whom will remain partners of Hear and Say Sunshine Coast activities for years to come.
 
2002 Newborn Hearing Screening program commences across Queensland (with regional hospitals rolling the program out progressively).

First Social Worker appointed and Professional Training program commences.

Claudia is our first six month old cochlear implantee at 6 months (this is now accepted as the norm).

3 April 2001 Auchenflower renovated premises officially open thanks to the support of Thiess and Suncorp. 

2001 Cairns centre opens to meet demand in North Queensland
 
2000 Darling Downs program commences and regular monthly Parent Education program starts for parents across both the Brisbane and Gold Coast Centre.

 7 July 1999 Gold Coast program commences on 7 July 1999 in a donated room.

1998 Hear and Say moves to its current home in Auchenflower although the necessary renovation required to accommodate increasing demand for its services is still in the planning stages.
 

1997 The first video teleconference to North Queensland commences – starting what will become a very successful Outreach Program. In this same year Hear and Say joins the Cooperative Research Centre.

1995 The 'Mouse House' - original name for the Centre opens in Toowong.
Shortly after this the name Hear and Say is made official.

1994 Move to larger premises in Kelvin Grove to accommodate additional children.

In this year the first overseas family from Nepal visit the Centre seeking help for their deaf child.

6 July 1992 Operations commence in a small room for six children

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