Sunrise awards first hearing assistance grant

Jake Callaghan was plagued by ear infections as a kid. He had grommets and several operations, eventually losing part of his left ear drum in high school.

Jake managed despite his hearing problems and after leaving school did work experience at GDI before gaining a mechanic apprenticeship with Enterprise.

As a teenager he didn’t want to get a hearing aid, but at work he had trouble hearing in the workshop and smoko room. 

He also had some embarrassing situations when dropping customers off. Because Jake’s hearing in his left ear is affected he couldn’t always hear what the customer sitting in the passenger seat was saying. He decided it was time to get a hearing aid. 

Jake is the first recipient of a grant from the Hearing Assistance Fund at Sunrise. He has had his hearing aid for a few months and is really pleased with the difference it has made. 

He says in the past he could feel a bit isolated because of his hearing difficulties and didn’t want to talk too much. Things are great now, he doesn’t have to strain to hear, is becoming more involved in conversations and dropping off customers is a breeze. 

The Gisborne Hearing Association closed in 2016 after nearly 70 years advocating for and assisting those with hearing impairments. The Association’s work continues through the Hearing Assistance Fund at Sunrise, which was established with the residue funds of the long running association.

The Sunrise Hearing Assistance Fund invites applications for grants from individuals who are hearing impaired and organisations that are involved in education or projects which help hearing impaired people. There are four funding rounds per annum.

We are accepting applications in the next round from 20 May until 2 June 2019.

Click here more information and to download the application form and funding policy visit our website. 

Hearing Assistance Fund