BRISBANE HEARS GOOD NEWS

BRISBANE will host the first AG Bell Global Listening and Spoken Language Symposium to be held in the Asia Pacific region in Mar 2021.

The city secured the three-day event following a bid process, led by Brisbane Marketing and local not-for-profit organisation, Hear and Say, which provides early intervention services for children with hearing loss.

Brisbane Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, said the symposium will bring more than 500 international hearing and speech professionals to the city and generate an estimated $890,000 for the local economy.

“Business events generate an average $250 million for Brisbane’s economy annually, and each conference that comes to our city facilitates knowledge exchange, partnerships and boosts the local tourism, hospitality and service sectors,” he said.

Hear and Say Clinical Director, Emma Rushbrooke, who is the first Australian President of the AG Bell Academy Board, said the decision to name Brisbane as the host of the 2021 event reflected Australia’s reputation for “its excellent level of service for children with hearing loss”.

“This conference will significantly boost Hear and Say’s profile, enhancing our reputation as specialists on an international scale,” she said.

“We are doing some great research here in Australia and now we are being recognised internationally for our excellent level of service for children with hearing loss.