Friday, 3 March @ 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
Join us for a free seminar on World Hearing Day, Friday 3 March 2023, where our panel of guest speakers will reflect on overcoming real-life challenges in various sectors, including the barriers that stand in the way of the one in every six Australians who experience hearing loss.
Presented by the Deafness Council of WA, “Breaking Down Barriers” is a unique and motivating forum for all members of our community to hear from the likes of Western Australia Cricket CEO Christina Matthews, WA businessman and philanthropist George Jones and mother of two boys supported in TSH’s Outpost Program, Bronwyn Doak. The event will focus on the barriers they have faced, how they have looked to overcome them and their hope for the future.
To register for this free seminar, please click on the Eventbrite link below.



About our speakers:
Christina Matthews is the 2022 Sports Administrator of the Year, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and a former Australian cricketer. She is Australia’s most capped female Test player and holds the record for the most dismissals in Test cricket by an Australian wicketkeeper. Christina is the only woman in Australia to hold the position of CEO of a State Cricket Association.
Christina has proven herself to be an effective and courageous leader since taking on the role of CEO at the WACA in 2012. She has redefined the way the WACA approaches its business, introducing a strong strategic focus, commitment to community engagement, restructuring to ensure resourcing aligns with the Associations’ strategic objectives. Her focus has also included increasing philanthropic endeavours to drive greater diversity and inclusion within the game and partnership development, both within the sports industry and in other complementary businesses, to expand the WACA’s reach. In the face of a largely male-dominated cricketing world both on and off the field, Christina’s strategic focus on creating a genuinely gender-equal sport has proved overwhelmingly successful. During her seven-year tenure, female cricket participation numbers have increased by a staggering 550% across the state.
Bronwyn Doak: A mum of six children, Ms Doak was devastated when her two youngest boys were diagnosed with Usher syndrome. They were born deaf and could lose their sight. From having gone through the diagnosis to getting cochlear implants fitted, to getting support with speech, sight, balance and more, the Doaks’ journey has been well supported by their ‘tribe’. But after investigating the clinical treatments available for her boys, she was disheartened to learn that Western Australia lacked some of the specialised research equipment available in other states in Australia. She has since raised significant funds to ensure that Western Australia is at the forefront of leading research into supporting those with Usher syndrome.
George Jones was chair of PCF Capital Group, Gindalbie Metals and Sundance Resources. Mr Jones initially stepped down as chair of Gindalbie in 2009 due to health issues, but resumed the chair in 2010 after its then-chairman Geoff Wedlock died in a plane crash in West Africa. Mr Jones also resumed the chairmanship of Sundance at the same time, following the death or Mr Wedlock and the other Sundance directors. He was non-executive chair of Minera Gold and Portman Mining. In September 2010 he was appointed as strategic consultant to Centaurus Metals.
Mr Jones has made substantial financial contributions to the Ear Science Institute of Australia, and the ESIA’s new Subiaco centre was named the George Jones Family Centre in 2011. He is a board member of the Parkerville Children’s Home and a supporter of the George Jones Child Advocacy Centre. Mr Jones was named Western Australia’s Senior Australian of the Year for his work with charities and the non-profit sector, and was awarded the 2011 Gold Medal for WA by the Australian Institute of Company Directors in recognition of his role as a corporate leader, notably at a time of the Sundance Resources disaster.
About World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day
World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
This year, the theme presented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) is ‘Ear and hearing call for all – let’s make it a reality’.
In Australia:
- Hearing loss is costing Australia $15 billion a year in health system costs and lost productivity
- Hearing loss affects 70% of people over the age of 70 and it has a huge impact on the quality of life
- It is more common than heart disease, cancer and diabetes
- 500,000 hearing aids are bought every year in Australia
- 10,000 people whose first language is Auslan cannot be left behind and deserve better access to education, jobs & community life
Date: Friday, 3 March @ 7:30 am - 1:30 pm
Venue: Telethon Speech & Hearing