Hear For You

Hear For You is an Australian not-for-profit charity dedicated to supporting teenagers who are deaf or hard of hearing. It was founded in 2008 by Olivia Andersen, who was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at eight months of age and wanted to use her own experiences to improve the lives of young people across Australia. The organisation runs a range of in-person workshops, life goals and skills programs, and mentor programs that connect deaf teenagers with mentors who have 'been there, done that'. Its programs are designed to build confidence, self-esteem, communication skills and social networks during the often challenging teenage years. Since its founding, Hear For You has grown into a thriving national charity. It is registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and is a nationally registered NDIS provider. According to its own account, it has run over 100 programs and workshops, helping equip more than 1,250 teenagers with essential life and communication skills, with the support of over 90 volunteers, including some of Australia's best-known deaf young people. In 2013 it won a National Disability Award for Excellence in Personal and Community Support. In 2021 Hear For You joined forces with The Shepherd Centre, a charity that has delivered therapy for young children with hearing loss for more than 50 years. The organisation operates across Australia, with activities having spread to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Christchurch. Its team includes National Manager and NSW State Manager John Lui, who joined in 2013 and is Australia's first deaf Junior Development and Club Professional qualified tennis coach from Tennis Australia, as well as a Deaflympics player for Australia since 2005. Founder Olivia Andersen remains involved as an Ambassador. Hear For You positions itself as a peer-led, lived-experience organisation: its programs are run by deaf adults who understand the challenges deaf teenagers face, offering a space to connect, pick up new skills and strategies, find mentors and have fun.

Hear For You was founded in 2008 by Olivia Andersen, a woman who was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at eight months of age. After undergoing speech therapy in her early years, she achieved academic and sporting success at Loreto Kirribilli, surprising doctors who had said she would never be able to speak or attend a mainstream school. She graduated from the University of New South Wales with a BA in Design and worked for 'marie claire' magazine, then spent time working in London and travelling before returning to study Business at RMIT University in Melbourne. As a recipient of the Churchill Fellowship award, she travelled overseas for six weeks to attend and research established mentoring organisations in the USA, United Kingdom and Scandinavia, gaining insight into mentoring and leadership programs for deaf and hard of hearing adolescents. Inspired by this, she returned to Australia and, joining forces with a team of like-minded people, founded Hear For You as a one-of-a-kind organisation devoted to supporting teenagers who are deaf and hard of hearing. The organisation grew steadily. Within three years of starting, it had spread its wings to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Christchurch. In 2013 it won a National Disability Award for Excellence in Personal and Community Support. Also in 2013, John Lui joined the team; he is Australia's first deaf Junior Development and Club Professional qualified tennis coach from Tennis Australia and has been playing for Australia at the Deaflympics since 2005. In 2017, founder Olivia Andersen presented to the Australian Parliament at one of its public hearings into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia. By its own account, Hear For You has run over 100 programs and workshops, helping equip over 1,250 teenagers with essential life and communication skills, with the help of over 90 volunteers, including some of Australia's best-known deaf young people. It is registered under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and is a nationally registered NDIS provider. In 2021, Hear For You joined forces with The Shepherd Centre, a charity that has been delivering world-leading therapy for young children with hearing loss for more than 50 years. Founder Olivia Andersen remains involved as an Ambassador, while John Lui serves as National Manager and NSW State Manager.

• 2021

  Hear For You joined forces with The Shepherd Centre.

• 2017

  Founder Olivia Andersen presented to the Australian Parliament at a public hearing into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia.

• 2013

  Won a National Disability Award for Excellence in Personal and Community Support.

• 2013

  John Lui joined the team.

• 2008

  Hear For You founded by Olivia Andersen.

A peer-led, lived-experience charity that helps deaf and hard of hearing teenagers build confidence, skills and connections.

• Life Goals & Skills In Person Workshops

• Mentor Programs

1. 1Home - Hear For Youhearforyou.com.au
2. 2Our Story - Hear For Youhearforyou.com.au
3. 3About Hear For You - Hear For Youhearforyou.com.au
4. 4Meet The Team - Hear For Youhearforyou.com.au
5. 5Hear For You (organizaton) - Wikidatawikidata.org