History
HearingAID-East Java builds upon the work of founder Dame Patricia O’Sullivan, OAM, DSJ, an early childhood expert and humanitarian, who first visited East Java in 1990 when the Western Australia - East Java Sister State Relationship was officially launched. There she formed links with the Karya Mulia School for Deaf Children in the capital, Surabaya.
She and the small not-for-profit association she founded, Patricia O’Sullivan Humanitarian Project, worked over the next two decades to support the school. Working together with local Indonesian agencies and with additional support from Rotary Clubs of Floreat and Surabaya, Australian Hearing and University of Western Australia, assistance included the provision of hearing testing and training equipment, computer and office equipment and a toy library, and bringing Karya Mulia teachers to Perth for training in basic audiology.
Following her retirement, the Project has continued and been broadened in scope, developing a wider plan for improving services for deaf children across East Java. In recent years, teachers and nurses have been brought to Perth for training in teacher of the deaf and testing of children with hearing disorders, audiology testing equipment has been donated, support has been given for the establishment of 5 Hearing and Resource Centres across East Java and key research projects have been undertaken at the University of Western Australia to support the trainees work.
To reflect this wider focus, the name HearingAID-East Java was adopted in 2013.
Dame Patricia O’Sullivan, OAM, DSJ
A renowned early childhood expert in Western Australia, Dame Patricia first visited East Java in 1990, and became interested in the work being done with children with hearing loss at Karya Mulia School for Deaf Children in the capital Surabaya. Over the years she assisted the school through the provision of expertise, training and education equipment, forming the Patricia O’Sullivan Humanitarian Project to more formally carry out her work. She also served as the Australian representative of Surabaya’s Yayasan Bina Anaprasa (Village Kindergarten Scheme). She served on numerous boards and not-for-profit associations over a long career devoted to children’s education and services, including: Founding President, Meerilinga Young Children’s Foundation, Founding Chairman, WA Children’s Week Past Vice President, Community Kindergarten Association Founding Governor and Trustee, former Board Member, United Way (WA) Vice President, Foster Care Association Zonta “Woman of Achievement” Award
The Founder
Dame Patricia O’Sullivan, OAM, DSJ
A renowned early childhood expert in Western Australia, Dame Patricia first visited East Java in 1990, and became interested in the work being done with children with hearing loss at Karya Mulia School for Deaf Children in the capital Surabaya.
HearingAID-East Java is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).
Charity ABN Number: 30590665087. It incorporates the Patricia O’Sullivan Humanitarian Project Inc.