Effective advocacy requires a unified voice with a consistent message. This holds true no matter what the issue.

It is however, particularly relevant to the sector that provides services for hearing impaired children.

There has been extraordinary progress in recent years with the increased implementation of new born screening, great advances in verbal auditory therapy and incredible technical improvements in hearing technology.

But there are still widespread myths and misconceptions about deafness and there are clear challenges ahead.

First Voice is a national coalition of service providers in hearing impairment that wants to ensure everyone knows about the opportunity facing Australians in this sector. That opportunity is to maximise the educational, developmental and vocational outcomes for all children who are born with hearing problems.

The next phase of this project sees Palin Communications working with the First Voice Board to develop a strategic communications plan to guide its political advocacy, stakeholder relations, healthcare professional education, general awareness raising and media management for the next two years

A communications workshop with board members and clinical staff was convened in the middle of February 2012 by the Palin team and we look forward to working with First Voice to develop a detailed communications plan for the future.

More information available at www.firstvoice.org.au