What is your name: Mandy Cutmore
Location (Nation Name): Anaiwan (Armidale NSW)
Mob: Anaiwan, Gomerio, Dunghutti
What is your qualification and why did you choose to study it?
I completed a Diploma in Audiometry in 2022. I chose this pathway because I wanted to help my family and my community. At the time, I discovered that fewer than ten Aboriginal people across the country were qualified in this field, and I knew there was a real need for culturally informed hearing health professionals.
My journey into audiometry became even more personal when my son was diagnosed with a permanent hearing loss. For years, we attended hearing services trying to understand what was happening, but I found the clinical language confusing and the referral pathways difficult to navigate. Many of the reports were hard to interpret, and the information given to me often left me feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next.
These experiences made me determined to ensure that other families – especially Aboriginal families – wouldn’t have to feel lost or unsupported. Studying audiometry gave me the skills to not only understand my son’s care pathway but also to advocate for clearer, culturally safe, and accessible hearing services for our people.
What is your favourite part of your job/ study?
My favourite part of my job is having the opportunity to visit Aboriginal communities across NSW and across the country. Being able to sit with people of all ages, yarn about their ears, and share knowledge about hearing and ear health is incredibly meaningful.
I love being able to educate, empower, and inform communities about the importance of looking after their hearing – not just for today, but for the long-term wellbeing of children, families, and future generations.
Having those real, on-Country conversations and seeing people feel more confident and informed about their health is what makes this work so rewarding.
What does this year’s theme mean to you as an Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Allied health professional?
As an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander allied health professional, this year’s theme – “From communities to classrooms: hearing care for all children” – highlights the importance of grounding all hearing and ear health work in community first. To me, it reflects that real impact begins at a local level, with families, culture, and community-led approaches guiding the way.
The theme also reinforces that hearing health doesn’t sit in one place – it needs to be prioritised everywhere our children learn, grow, and feel safe, whether that’s in the community, at home, or in the classroom. Spreading the message across sectors is vital, but it’s the strength and knowledge within community that must always remain at the centre of children’s hearing care.
What is your favourite thing about IAHA?
My favourite thing about IAHA is the people. The staff are genuinely amazing – always willing to help, incredibly supportive, and deeply committed to community. They bring such a friendly, welcoming energy to everything they do. Their strong community focus and their passion for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health professionals truly sets IAHA apart.
They don’t just do the work – they live the values, and it shows in every interaction.
World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
