In April, Deafness Forum Australia was represented at the ACAud inc. HAASA National Congress 2026 on the Gold Coast, where more than 900 delegates from across the sector came together, spanning clinicians, researchers, industry and government. The Congress reflected a field moving quickly, with strong momentum across technology, service delivery and innovation.

Alongside this progress sits a clear and shared opportunity: to ensure lived experience is embedded in how hearing health is shaped, not just as input, but as a driving force within decision-making.

Throughout the Congress, Deafness Forum Australia engaged deeply across the sector, contributing to conversations that were thoughtful, practical and forward-looking. There is a growing willingness to work more collectively, and a stronger recognition that hearing health extends well beyond clinical care into communication, participation, education and everyday life.

Several important pathways emerged from this engagement. A direct connection was established with the Hearing Professionals Conduct and Complaints Body to strengthen awareness of consumer rights and access to independent advocacy. There was also strong alignment across organisations to continue progressing discussions around equitable access to cochlear implant upgrades for older Australians, an area where greater consistency across systems remains important.

The Congress also created new opportunities to collaborate with researchers and providers contributing to One in Five, helping ensure that evidence and lived experience are shared in ways that are accessible, relevant and grounded in real-world contexts.

Emerging technologies, including developments such as Auracast, were a strong feature of the program. These innovations hold real potential to improve accessibility, particularly in public environments. Their success, however, will depend on how well they are implemented and how closely they respond to the needs of the people using them.

A highlight of the Congress was the opportunity to share Deafness Forum Australia’s “Put Your Hands Up for Auslan” campaign film. The response from delegates was engaged and considered, opening up broader conversations about communication, language and inclusion, and reinforcing the importance of designing access from the outset.

As the number of Australians affected by hearing loss continues to grow, now one in five, the importance of working collectively across the sector becomes even more significant. There is a strong foundation in place, and a clear appetite to build on it.

Deafness Forum Australia will continue to contribute lived experience perspectives into these national conversations, working alongside partners to support approaches that are inclusive, practical and responsive to real-world outcomes.

Because meaningful progress is collective, and it is strongest when people are part of shaping the systems designed to support them.