Why did we create Hearing Business Alliance?
We had no voice ... we changed that
Save the dates for our next Annual Seminar
'Strategies for Business Success'
Thursday 22 - Saturday 24 February, 2024
We welcome members and non-members
Discover innovative ideas, best practices, and actionable tips that can make a real difference in your entrepreneurial journey.
Delegates at our past Seminars said: "What a well-orchestrated seminar, thoroughly insightful for small business owners. The event was well tailored to meet a variety of business needs so unique to our niche industry."
"The conference was worth every cent, and I look forward to seeing what HBA has to offer throughout the year. I have been telling colleagues about how good it was and that they should seriously consider joining."
"Thank you for the effort that went into the conference. It was excellent! It was so good to meet new people from all over Australia, and to hear about their Audiology business journeys (and also hearing about how they spend time outside audiology was fascinating, what an interesting bunch)."
HBA's Board and Executive welcomed delegates to our Gala Dinner at the largest dedicated meeting of independent hearing care business owners in Australia - our February 2023 Small Business Seminar in Melbourne.
We design our seminars to be business-focused, educational and collaborative - they're a great networking opportunity.
Left to right: Stephen Logan, Gayle Dicieri, Lizette Fourie, Nicole Bowden, Jane MacDonald, Terry Clayton and Diana Bienvenu.
Representing Members in Canberra. Jane was in Canberra the week of 13 to 17 November, 2023, chairing two days of collaborative Hearing Health Sector Alliance meetings.
She represented Hearing Business Alliance Members at those meetings, and also during very productive discussions with the Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Minister Mark Butler, MP, at Parliament House.
Congratulations to our CEO, who was elected Chair of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance in June 2023. From Jane:
“I was honored … HBA is proud to be one of eight founding HHSA members, and a current Executive member. I have represented HBA since the HHSA launched in September 2019.
Thank you Tony Coles for your vision of forming the HHSA following development of the 'Roadmap for Hearing Health' and for your leadership as inaugural Chair.
The passion and drive of all HHSA members is inspiring. We all look forward to future collaboration and to implementing our work plan to help improve hearing health outcomes for Australians.” Jane MacDonald
30 May 2023 Meeting with the Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon. Mark Butler, MP
"It was an honour today to represent the Hearing Business Alliance ... and discuss the Hearing Health Sector Alliance’s top hearing health priorities and how we can work constructively with Government to achieve them."
And to also "...relate the message to rural practice, and small independent businesses." Jane MacDonald
Our focus is to support all the aspects of your 'business operations', and also includes the legislation, the marketplace, and the ethics.
In our Mission to inspire and encourage small hearing care providers to reach their full business potential, we represent our Members to consumers, professional, government and industry bodies.
We invite you to Join us. We are an inclusive organization; our Member companies are owned by independent audiologists, audiometrists and others providing hearing health care throughout our Australian communities.
Don't miss our regular next Zoom Meetings.
See how our Partnerships help grow our Members' businesses
The Executive and Board are pleased to announce our latest partnership agreements, which offer us discounts from Vorotek, Interacoustics, Counselear, MTC Consulting, and HearSure.
We also renewed our Memorandum of Understanding with Audiology Australia to work together in areas of mutual interest.
Do you and your staff understand the HSP? We can help - we're a 'phone call away
Safeguard against an HSP Audit. Do you understand Maintenance Agreements? See our range of comprehensive updates.
Letter from Chris Carlile, Assistant Secretary, Hearing Services Program
“… The value for Government in engaging with HBA is that we can connect directly through Jane MacDonald to (the then) 110 hearing businesses that deliver the HSP all over Australia. It is much preferable for Government to deal with one person representing so many businesses, rather than trying to talk with each, and every, business owner – we just wouldn’t be able to do it. As the Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health with responsibility for the Hearing Services Program, I appreciate the important role that Jane has played in representing the interests of HBA members to Government. Jane can contact me at any time, and I do listen to any concerns that she does raise on behalf of members, as well as seeking her counsel as a considered and reasoned voice in the hearing sector."
The Board acknowledges all the work that Jane and Stephen devote to the business challenges we encounter. With their experience, insight and advocacy, they are a valuable source of assistance, guidance and resources for our Members.
We now have a voice, and access to the legislative policies affecting our livelihoods!
A husband and wife with a small, independent audiology practice, bullied with the threat of a meritless $1 million lawsuit, their successes exposing falsehoods and unethical practices, defending their reputation, and finally getting legislators to listen -- and HBA’s subsequent advocacy -- brought major changes to our industry.
Did you know that small businesses
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" ...with less than 20 employees comprise 97% of all Australian businesses
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employ more than 43% of the workforce, and
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account for around $380 billion worth of industry value added (Source: The Treasury)
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family businesses account for 70% of all businesses in Australia and employ around half the country’s workforce".
Of around 300 hearing care businesses in Australia, seven large chains and the former Australian Hearing control 85% of the market. Approximately 290 small, independent companies share the remaining 15%.
Around 3.6 million Australians suffer hearing loss; estimated to double by 2060. (Source: Dept of Health and Aged Care).
Some archives of the state of our industry
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Hearing Business Alliance acknowledges the First People and Traditional Custodians of Country.
We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, water and community throughout Australia, and pay our respects to them, their cultures and to their elders past, present and emerging.