How a regional wellbeing day created space for people to talk, listen and take a first step towards better hearing health.
Mildura, VIC
April 2026
From the community
The morning sun was already warming the fields around Gunbower when the Country Hearing Care Mobile Hearing Van arrived at Harvesting Health. Local farmers, agricultural workers and families had gathered for a day focused on health and wellbeing, creating a familiar and relaxed setting to talk about something that can easily be overlooked in busy rural lives: hearing health.
A different kind of health conversation
Nadia and Gavin represented Country Hearing Care throughout the day, answering questions, sharing practical information and providing hearing screenings from the van. Visitors could stop by, ask a question and learn more about protecting their hearing without needing to make a formal appointment or travel to a clinic.
Hearing health on the farm
For people working in agriculture, tractors, harvesters, machinery, livestock and other sources of workplace noise can make hearing health especially relevant. Hearing loss can develop gradually, so the team used the day to discuss practical hearing protection, regular hearing checks and early signs that may indicate it is time for a full assessment.
Taking healthcare into the community
The Mobile Hearing Van allows the team to meet people where they already live, work and gather. Bringing a hearing conversation into a community event can make the first step feel
easier, particularly for people who may otherwise delay seeking advice.
Looking after hearing for the long term
Some visitors came specifically to ask about their hearing. Others wanted information for a family member or were simply curious about what a hearing screening involved. All of those
conversations matter. Looking after hearing health does not have to begin with a problem; sometimes, it begins with a conversation.
“In farming communities, hearing health can easily be pushed to the side because there is always something else that needs doing. Days like Harvesting Health give us the chance to meet people where they are, start a simple conversation and help them understand the small steps they can take to protect their hearing for the long term.”
— Nadia, Audiologist, Country Hearing Care
Why this story matters
For communities like Gunbower, taking hearing information directly to local events helps make hearing health a natural part of looking after the whole community.
Students at the Swan Hill Allied Health Work Experience Week Graduation Lunch had spent the week exploring the possibilities available across allied health. For Country Hearing Care Audiologist Tia Liu, being invited as guest speaker was a chance to show students what a career in audiology can look like—and the opportunities that exist in regional Australia.
The Bendigo Seniors Expo brought together members of the local community for a day of information, connection and ideas for living well. Country Hearing Care’s Bendigo Clinical Team Lead, Courtney Di Battista, attended to meet visitors, answer questions and talk about an aspect of healthy ageing that can sometimes be overlooked: hearing.
The Bendigo Health Foundation Supporter Appreciation Event brought together businesses, community organisations and supporters who share a common goal: strengthening healthcare for people across the Bendigo region. Country Hearing Care attended as a proud Friend of Bendigo Health and joined an evening recognising the contribution of supporters across the region.
The conversation began with a simple question: what can we all do to look after our brain health as we get older? Through the Brain Health Roadshow, Country Hearing Care partnered with Dementia Australia to take that conversation directly into regional communities.
Working closely with local First Nations communities and groups, the initiative provided education and practical information about dementia risk factors and prevention strategies, while highlighting an important connection that can sometimes be overlooked: the relationship between hearing health and brain health.
