info@deafnessforum.org.au National Peak Body
Deafness Forum Australia
Our Stories

Lived Experience

Personal stories from across the Australian hearing community that drive our advocacy work.

Lucas's Journey
Featured Story
Lucas’s Journey

Why Lived Experience Matters

When we go to Parliament House to speak with Ministers, data is important, but personal stories are what change hearts and minds. Hearing loss is often invisible, and storytelling makes the challenges and triumphs of our community visible to those in power.

Whether you use Auslan, oral communication, or live with tinnitus, your story helps us build a more inclusive Australia.

Share Your Story

Community Voices

Hard of Hearing

“After losing my hearing in my late 20s, I felt totally isolated. Deafness Forum helped me to find the relevant funding and a community where I felt understood.”

S
Sarah M., Brisbane
Tinnitus

“Managing tinnitus was a daily struggle. The resources provided by DFA gave me practical management techniques and hope.”

R
Robert T., Melbourne
Family Support

“As parents of a child with a cochlear implant, we needed a peak body that understood the educational challenges our daughter faced.”

E
Elena & Mark, Perth

“We are not defined by our hearing loss, but by our resilience and our community.”

Join over 10,000 Australians sharing their journey with us.