Margie’s Story: Breaking Barriers with Hearing Support

Margie, 45, lives in Miniyeri, a remote* community in the Northern Territory, where she works as a receptionist and community liaison at a health clinic visited by our Outreach team several times a year. She had struggled with hearing loss since childhood. “I needed to sit at the front to listen better,” she recalls. “My hearing problems made it difficult to complete high school.” 

Despite an ear operation when she was younger, her hearing difficulties continued into adulthood. Working in a busy clinic was exhausting when listening conditions made communication harder. “I pretend to be hearing, saying ‘yes-yes’. But I’m not listening very well.” 

Saving for hearing aids felt impossible—until the Social Purpose Program became available. On 14 October, Margie received her first pair of hearing aids. Her reaction: 

These will help me at work and for TV at home. I’m also hearing my voice differently. It’s much better. I don’t know how to thank you.

Margie then extended her arm to shake hands with audiologist Paul Hickey, saying simply: “I’m very thankful.” 

*First Nations adults aged 26–49 years with significant hearing loss living in non-remote locations can access the Social Purpose Program if they hold a valid Health Care Card.