Aussie Deaf Kids

Aussie Deaf Kids (ADK) is an Australian not-for-profit organisation and registered charity that supports families raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Rather than operating as a clinic or a manufacturer of hearing technology, it functions as a trusted online resource and community: it publishes plain-language information about hearing loss, hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices, and it connects parents with one another so that they can draw on the collective experience of families on similar journeys. Its stated purpose is to empower parents through online support, information and advocacy. The organisation's content is organised around the practical questions families face after a child's diagnosis. Its 'About hearing loss' section explains how hearing works, the types and degrees of hearing loss, the tests used to diagnose them, the main causes of hearing loss, and the technologies available — hearing aids (provided free of charge to all children in Australia), cochlear implants for permanent severe to profound deafness, and assistive listening devices that stream sound directly to hearing aids and implants. A separate 'Support services' section maps the Australian system for families, covering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Hearing Australia, early intervention, education, the health system, financial assistance and advocacy. ADK also runs webinars designed for parents and publishes a newsletter, Sounds & Signs. Beyond information, ADK emphasises family-to-family support, describing a community of families with children with hearing loss and inviting parents to 'find support' through its online network. It also represents family perspectives in research and program development, and solicits donations to sustain its work. The organisation states that it is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, guided by respect for children's rights as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Aussie Deaf Kids is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). It operates primarily online and serves families across Australia. Its public-facing identity is that of an independent, family-centred information and advocacy brand rather than a commercial service provider, and its website is the main channel through which it delivers resources, community and news.

Aussie Deaf Kids is an Australian organisation that grew out of the need for parent-centred, independent information for families after a child is diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing. Publicly available evidence does not record a precise founding date or named founders; what is documented is its present identity as a trusted online resource and a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Its model is built around three connected activities. The first is information: the website explains how hearing works, the types and degrees of hearing loss, the tests used to diagnose a loss, the main causes, and the technologies available to children — hearing aids, which are provided free of charge to all children in Australia; cochlear implants, which provide a sensation of hearing to children with permanent severe to profound deafness who cannot hear the full range of speech sounds with hearing aids; and assistive listening devices that stream sound directly to hearing aids and implants. It also covers specific hearing losses such as unilateral and mild hearing loss and the considerations for management and support. The second activity is navigation of the Australian service system. ADK's support-services content maps the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which funds disability services and supports in Australia; Hearing Australia, which is funded by the Australian government to provide hearing services to children; early intervention and where to find services; education and how to help a child enjoy a quality education; the health system; federal and state financial assistance; and how to advocate for a child's needs. It frames decision-making as a collaborative process between parents and professionals. The third activity is community and advocacy. ADK invites families into a community of families with children with hearing loss so they can benefit from family-to-family support and the collective wisdom of others on similar journeys. It runs webinars designed for parents, publishes the newsletter Sounds & Signs, and represents family perspectives in research and program development — for example, promoting a National Acoustics Laboratory (NAL) survey on the future direction of research concerning children and families. It also solicits donations, explaining that contributions help it share knowledge with families, offer essential family-to-family support, and represent their perspectives. ADK states that it is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people, with practice guided by respect for the inherent rights of children and young people to be safe, happy and empowered as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Its public materials also reference governance and accountability documents such as annual reports, privacy, accessibility and complaints policies, and a 'what guides us' and 'our people' section. The organisation operates primarily online and serves families across Australia.

• Aussie Deaf Kids is documented as a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

• Publication of the newsletter Sounds & Signs, with the September 2026 edition made available online.

• Promotion of a National Acoustics Laboratory (NAL) survey on the future of research concerning children and families (survey closing 2 October 2026).

A trusted, independent online resource and family-to-family support community for Australian families raising children who are deaf or hard of hearing; a registered charity rather than a commercial service provider.

• Online information on hearing loss

  Explains how hearing works, types and degrees of hearing loss, hearing tests, causes, hearing aids, cochlear implants, assistive listening devices and specific hearing losses.

• Support services guidance

  Information on the NDIS, Hearing Australia, early intervention, education, the health system, financial matters and advocacy.

• Parent webinars

  Webinars designed for parents, offered through the website.

• Sounds & Signs newsletter

  The official newsletter of Aussie Deaf Kids, published periodically and readable online.

• Family-to-family online support community

  A community of families with children with hearing loss offering peer support and shared experience.

1. 1Aussie Deaf Kidsaussiedeafkids.org.au
2. 2About us | Aussie Deaf Kidsaussiedeafkids.org.au
3. 3Support services | Aussie Deaf Kidsaussiedeafkids.org.au
4. 4About hearing loss | Aussie Deaf Kidsaussiedeafkids.org.au
5. 5Aussie Deaf Kidswikidata.org