As one of only seven accredited Audiology programs in Australia, and the only one in WA, the Master of Clinical Audiology course at The University of Western Australia is at the forefront of hearing health. It is instrumental in building a pipeline of qualified, allied health professionals who are actively transforming lives in WA and across the country.

The University celebrated its 25th anniversary of the program on 1 May 2025, hosted by the School of Human Sciences at the University Club, and attended by more than 100 past and present Audiology academic staff, alumni and volunteers. 

It was an engaging evening, spotlighting a panel presentation of past alumni, opened by the Head of School Professor Silvana Gaudieri and moderated by Clinical Director Audiology, Associate Professor Helen Goulios. 

The success of the event is testament to the outstanding calibre of UWA Audiology graduates, many of whom now form the backbone of the state’s hearing health workforce, spread across hospitals, schools, research institutes, regional clinics and remote communities. 

Leading by example, UWA’s Audiology teaching staff members are also active in research, collaborating with many researchers within and outside UWA, with particular interest in listening difficulties in children, or Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), as well as tinnitus and cochlear implant-induced fibrosis.

To mark a major milestone, UWA has taken yet another significant step forward – with the recent installation of a state-of-the-art paediatric audiology booth, thanks to the generous support of Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.

Image (left to right): Sophie Winfield, Mikaela Turner, Dr Robyn Choi and Gervase Chaney.

Located on the Crawley campus, this purpose-built paediatric booth plays a critical role in advancing research led by Dr Robyn Choi and Associate Professor Wilhelmina Mulders.

Its special features include being fully equipped, soundproof and able to meet specific paediatric needs – such as being larger than a standard booth to accommodate children and parent or carer; tailored for precise, child-focused auditory assessments; and enabling researchers to conduct clinical trials in a controlled, child-friendly environment. 

The paediatric booth is also imperative in furthering Dr Choi’s and Associate Professor Mulders’ research on CAPD and tinnitus, generously funded respectively by Channel 7 Telethon Trust and a bequest to UWA by the late John Colin Fairchild.

Dr Choi is pioneering a new, trans-disciplinary approach to treating CAPD – a condition where children hear normally but struggle to understand sounds – through rhythmic exercise and music as a fun, holistic intervention to improve their auditory processing abilities. 

Thanks to the support of Telethon and UWA, Dr Choi’s initial results of her engaging treatments are promising, with children demonstrating significant improvement in their listening performance after eight weeks. In the same vein, treatments facilitated improved emotional regulation and attention as added benefits. 

Associate Professor Mulders’ neuroscience work, supported by the generous Fairchild bequest, is investigating the brain’s role in tinnitus, commonly described as “ringing in the ears” and often triggered by early noise exposure. 

The Fairchild bequest has propelled Associate Professor Mulders to lead the way in uniting experts in brain science and hearing, as well as specialists in ears, nose and throat (ENT) to better understand and treat tinnitus. 

Her work explores the potential of non-invasive therapies, including brain stimulation, to reduce the burden of tinnitus and its associated mental health impacts. Remarkably, pilot data of her studies shows novel mechanisms of underlying neural changes – paving the way to achieve the goal of developing real-world treatments to improve the quality of life for those suffering from the condition.

“As research funding is increasingly hard to obtain from government agencies, philanthropic grants play a critical role in the pursuit of knowledge and research excellence,” Associate Professor Mulders said.

“I am immensely grateful to our funders, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Telethon, and the John Fairchild bequest, allowing us to continue to work on innovative research to serve the community.”

Associate Professor Mulders

Image: Associate Professor Wilhelmina Mulders (left) and Dr Robyn Choi in the paediatric audiology booth.

As demand for child hearing services continues to grow, UWA’s audiology program remains committed to its mission: enhancing child health research and empowering the next generation of hearing health practitioners to close the care gap – all in a bid to transform the lives, wellbeing and health outcomes of children and families. 

Together, the paediatric booth and groundbreaking research by Dr Choi and Associate Professor Mulders – propelled by visionary donor support from Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Telethon, and the John Colin Fairchild bequest – exemplify the University’s commitment to improving health outcomes through research excellence, innovation and community partnership. Collectively, it leads the way in best practice, delivering solutions with transformative, lifelong impact.