How Our University CSR Partnership Supports Hearing Health

Giving Back This Summer: How Our University CSR Partnership Supports Hearing Health

At Connect Hearing, we believe hearing health is for everyone. Our partnership with La Trobe University, HEARGlobe, and Soundfair is opening new doors for communities across Australia and overseas to access hearing support. In this blog, we will explore how this partnership is helping people connect with confidence.

A Partnership With Purpose

Our CSR initiative focuses on improving access to hearing care for individuals who might face barriers. This includes people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, recent migrants, asylum seekers, and those with low incomes. By combining Connect Hearing’s resources with university programs, we can provide hearing support, education, and encouragement to communities who may not otherwise have the opportunity to prioritise their hearing. 

Locally, La Trobe University and Soundfair run the Soundfair Hearing Bank. This not-for-profit program collects, refurbishes, and redistributes donated hearing aids to people ineligible for government support or private care. 

Internationally, the University of Melbourne’s HEARGlobe program helps communities in low and middle income countries. Each year, HEARGlobe teams travel to countries such as Cambodia to fit donated hearing aids and offer community education about hearing health. 

How Donations Make A Difference

Clients can make a big impact simply by donating old hearing aids. Here’s how the process works:

• Drop off at a Connect Hearing clinic: Clients can bring their unused or older hearing aids into their local Connect Hearing clinic, where our team will take care of the next steps. 
• Clinic preparation: Connect Hearing staff check all devices, remove batteries and ear moulds, and ensure they are in good working order.
• Storage: Hearing aids are stored until a 1kg Toll bag is ready for dispatch. 
• Dispatch: Depending on the device type, hearing aids are sent to La Trobe University or HEARGlobe for refurbishment and redistribution.
  

Both behind-the-ear (BTE) and receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids can be donated. La Trobe also accepts custom devices for teaching purposes, while HEARGlobe focuses on BTE devices for international fitting programs. 

Each donation may support someone to gain better access to hearing care and help them feel more connected in daily life. Beyond devices, these programs provide psychosocial support, multilingual education sessions, and tools that may support mental wellbeing. 

How You Can Get Involved

There are many ways to support this incredible initiative and help others connect to the people and world around them through sound. You can:

• Choose to donate a hearing aid you no longer use.
• Share awareness about the program with friends and family. 
• You might like to participate in local fundraising events organised by the universities or Connect Hearing. 

By taking part, you’ll help ensure more Australians and international communities can access professional hearing care. Your contribution also supports confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging. 

This summer, your involvement can make a real difference. Together, we can help build a world where hearing health is accessible and celebrated. If you have old hearing aids you no longer use, you can find your nearest Connect Hearing clinic on our website and drop them off for donation. If you’re looking to prioritise your own hearing health, book an appointment at your local Connect Hearing clinic. Our experienced team is here to support you and help make your hearing experience positive and comfortable.

References:

1. Connect Hearing (29 October 2025), Donated Hearing Aids Management Policy, Connect Hearing, accessed 28 November 2025.