Graduate Diploma of Hearing Health Care strengthens Indigenous pathways into audiology

The Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology has developed the Graduate Diploma of Hearing Health Care (GDHHC) to offer an accelerated, accessible pathway into audiology for First Nations people.

This pathway comes in response to a federal government request highlighting the urgent need to increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander audiology graduates. With disproportionately high rates of ear disease and hearing loss among First Nations children, this pathway works to support the national Action Plan to halve these rates by 2029.

The GDHHC reduces the tertiary study burden, recognises prior learning and community experience, and provides flexible part time and remote learning options so students can remain connected to family and Country while completing coursework and placements. Community based clinical placements, co-designed curriculum elements and a commitment to student voice ensure the course is culturally safe and immediately relevant to local hearing health needs; the program is now in its second year with six Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled. 

The initiative is led within the Department by Professor Dani Tomlin (Head of Department) and Associate Professor Kelley Graydon (Course Coordinator, Master of Clinical Audiology), with academic and clinical input from Dr Donella Chisari, Dr Grace Nixon and Dr Michelle Todorov. Development and delivery have involved close collaboration with sector partners alongside University of Melbourne Indigenous health leadership such as Professor Sean Taylor and the Indigenous Student Success team.  

By strengthening local workforce capacity and prioritising community led care, the GDHHC aims to improve culturally appropriate hearing services for communities while opening sustainable career and leadership pathways for First Nations graduates.