Melbourne Connect & Learn
The Melbourne Connect & Learn event will be held live in-person at Oaks Melbourne on Market Hotel on Friday 14 August 2026 from 1:30–5 PM.
This 3.5-hour event will explore the latest in hearing implants, including cochlear implants and bone conduction systems.
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of current developments, considerations and approaches to hearing implants, that supports clinical decision-making, encourages peer discussion, and offers practical insights for everyday practice.
Each event includes a relaxed afternoon tea, offering time to connect with fellow attendees and chat with exhibitors.
Registration Fees
Registration
Registrations close on 4 August at 5 PM AEST
Member
$75
Non -Member
$90
Program
Overview
1:30–1:35 PM
1:35–2:05 PM
2:05–2:55 PM
2:55–3:25 PM
3:25–3:55 PM
3:55–4:25 PM
4:25–4:50 PM
4:50–5 PM
Meet The Speakers
Meet Kurt
Kurt Ashworth is a Clinical Audiologist and Clinical Team Lead at Country Hearing Care in Ballarat. He completed a Master of Clinical Audiology in 2009, following an undergraduate Science degree with a major in Psychology.
Since graduating, Kurt has worked across a broad range of audiology services, including paediatrics, newborn hearing diagnostics, adult assessment and rehabilitation.
In 2021, he joined the Victorian Cochlear Implant Program (VCIP) in its infancy as a cochlear implant audiologist and has since become a key member of the cochlear implant clinical team at Country Hearing Care.
Country Hearing Care
Meet Kurt
Kurt Ashworth is a Clinical Audiologist and Clinical Team Lead at Country Hearing Care in Ballarat. He completed a Master of Clinical Audiology in 2009, following an undergraduate Science degree with a major in Psychology.
Since graduating, Kurt has worked across a broad range of audiology services, including paediatrics, newborn hearing diagnostics, adult assessment and rehabilitation.
In 2021, he joined the Victorian Cochlear Implant Program (VCIP) in its infancy as a cochlear implant audiologist and has since become a key member of the cochlear implant clinical team at Country Hearing Care.
Meet Manasi
With 19 years of dedicated experience in cochlear implant audiology, including 12 years at the renowned Eye and Ear Hospital, Manasi Canagasabey (Mani) is a passionate advocate for hearing health. Her career has been driven by a commitment to improving quality of life for individuals with hearing loss
through evidence-based practice and compassionate care.
Manasi’s expertise spans paediatric and adult clinical assessment, implant programming and diagnostic vestibular assessment. She is deeply invested in translating research into meaningful outcomes for her patients.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Manasi
With 19 years of dedicated experience in cochlear implant audiology, including 12 years at the renowned Eye and Ear Hospital, Manasi Canagasabey (Mani) is a passionate advocate for hearing health. Her career has been driven by a commitment to improving quality of life for individuals with hearing loss
through evidence-based practice and compassionate care.
Manasi’s expertise spans paediatric and adult clinical assessment, implant programming and diagnostic vestibular assessment. She is deeply invested in translating research into meaningful outcomes for her patients.
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Claridge is a certified practising Speech Pathologist with more than 30 years’ experience. She certified as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in 2008; has worked at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, Brisbane’s Hear and Say Centre and her own private practice. In 2016 she was contracted by MED-EL to create the popular free downloadable resources ‘MED-EL Lesson Kits’ and in 2017 joined MED-EL’s global Rehabilitation Department.
In 2021 she moved into a newly created position with MED-EL addressing the rehabilitation needs of Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
MED-EL
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Claridge is a certified practising Speech Pathologist with more than 30 years’ experience. She certified as a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist in 2008; has worked at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, Brisbane’s Hear and Say Centre and her own private practice. In 2016 she was contracted by MED-EL to create the popular free downloadable resources ‘MED-EL Lesson Kits’ and in 2017 joined MED-EL’s global Rehabilitation Department.
In 2021 she moved into a newly created position with MED-EL addressing the rehabilitation needs of Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
Meet Kathryn
Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Clinical Audiology from the University of Melbourne and brings over 12 years of experience as a Clinical Audiologist. With a strong background in adult rehabilitation, she is passionate about delivering practical, patient‑centred hearing solutions.
In her role as Clinical Sales Specialist for Queensland and South Australia for Oticon Medical, Kathryn is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of bone conduction hearing systems among clinicians and the wider community.
Oticon Medical
Meet Kathryn
Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Clinical Audiology from the University of Melbourne and brings over 12 years of experience as a Clinical Audiologist. With a strong background in adult rehabilitation, she is passionate about delivering practical, patient‑centred hearing solutions.
In her role as Clinical Sales Specialist for Queensland and South Australia for Oticon Medical, Kathryn is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of bone conduction hearing systems among clinicians and the wider community.
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Farrell is an audiologist and has worked in the Cochlear Implant Clinic since 2003, she holds a senior clinical role. As a clinical audiologist she works with adults, children and their families in assessing and counselling them to determine if a cochlear implant would be of benefit.
Rebecca currently lectures in the field of cochlear implants at La Trobe University. She enjoys working with external health care providers as part of a multi-disciplinary team to improve patient care. She is also part of the leadership team at the clinic.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Rebecca
Rebecca Farrell is an audiologist and has worked in the Cochlear Implant Clinic since 2003, she holds a senior clinical role. As a clinical audiologist she works with adults, children and their families in assessing and counselling them to determine if a cochlear implant would be of benefit.
Rebecca currently lectures in the field of cochlear implants at La Trobe University. She enjoys working with external health care providers as part of a multi-disciplinary team to improve patient care. She is also part of the leadership team at the clinic.
Meet Jean-Marc
Associate Professor Jean-Marc Gerard is an ENT consultant at the Eye and Ear, Clinical Director, Ear, Nose and Throat Services and the Head of the Otology Unit. Prior to moving to Melbourne, Associate Professor Gerard created and managed the Otology Unit at the Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi and worked as the Head of the Otology and Neurotology Department at the University Hospital Saint-Luc in Brussels.
Academically, Associate Professor Gerard was appointed Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne in 2017.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Jean-Marc
Associate Professor Jean-Marc Gerard is an ENT consultant at the Eye and Ear, Clinical Director, Ear, Nose and Throat Services and the Head of the Otology Unit. Prior to moving to Melbourne, Associate Professor Gerard created and managed the Otology Unit at the Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi and worked as the Head of the Otology and Neurotology Department at the University Hospital Saint-Luc in Brussels.
Academically, Associate Professor Gerard was appointed Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Melbourne in 2017.
Meet Rod
Rod Hollow is an audiologist and Clinic Co-ordinator for the Cochlear Implant Clinic, at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital. Over the last 30 years Rod has specialised in the clinical application of implantable hearing devices; supporting many adults, children and their families through the cochlear and bone conduction implantation processes.
He has also worked as a research audiologist on sound coding development. Rod has experience as a lecturer in the field of cochlear implants; being involved in international training workshops and the University of Melbourne.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Rod
Rod Hollow is an audiologist and Clinic Co-ordinator for the Cochlear Implant Clinic, at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital. Over the last 30 years Rod has specialised in the clinical application of implantable hearing devices; supporting many adults, children and their families through the cochlear and bone conduction implantation processes.
He has also worked as a research audiologist on sound coding development. Rod has experience as a lecturer in the field of cochlear implants; being involved in international training workshops and the University of Melbourne.
Meet Cordelia
Cordelia is an audiologist with the Cochlear Implant Clinic since she joined the clinic in 2008. She is involved in supporting adults, children, and families through their pre & post-operative programs.
Cordelia has joined the team following an extensive career with Hearing Australia, where she has specialized in the assessment and provision of hearing
devices and rehabilitation to clients with significant hearing loss and special needs.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Cordelia
Cordelia is an audiologist with the Cochlear Implant Clinic since she joined the clinic in 2008. She is involved in supporting adults, children, and families through their pre & post-operative programs.
Cordelia has joined the team following an extensive career with Hearing Australia, where she has specialized in the assessment and provision of hearing
devices and rehabilitation to clients with significant hearing loss and special needs.
Meet Jaime
Jaime Leigh, PhD, is Director of Cochlear Implant Business Unit at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, where she also holds a senior clinical role within the Cochlear Implant Clinic. She has over 20 years of experience as a clinical and research audiologist, with expertise spanning adult and paediatric cochlear implantation.
Dr Leigh has led the development of the Victorian Cochlear Implant Program and, since 2023, has overseen strategic service development and stakeholder engagement across cochlear implant and balance services. She holds an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Melbourne, and her research focuses on translational outcomes in cochlear implantation, including candidacy, early intervention, speech and language development, and bilateral implantation. She is actively involved in the supervision of graduate research students at the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Jaime
Jaime Leigh, PhD, is Director of Cochlear Implant Business Unit at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, where she also holds a senior clinical role within the Cochlear Implant Clinic. She has over 20 years of experience as a clinical and research audiologist, with expertise spanning adult and paediatric cochlear implantation.
Dr Leigh has led the development of the Victorian Cochlear Implant Program and, since 2023, has overseen strategic service development and stakeholder engagement across cochlear implant and balance services. She holds an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Melbourne, and her research focuses on translational outcomes in cochlear implantation, including candidacy, early intervention, speech and language development, and bilateral implantation. She is actively involved in the supervision of graduate research students at the University of Melbourne and La Trobe University.
Meet Stephanie
Stephanie is an Audiology Australia-accredited audiologist with a passion for implantable hearing solutions. She discovered her interest in this field while working in an independent clinical setting in Melbourne, Victoria. With a strong foundation in diagnostics and rehabilitation, Stephanie has been supporting MED-EL’s hearing implant partners across Melbourne & Sydney since 2021.
In her role as Clinical Specialist, she is dedicated to delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care and advancing best practices in the hearing implant field.
MED-EL
Meet Stephanie
Stephanie is an Audiology Australia-accredited audiologist with a passion for implantable hearing solutions. She discovered her interest in this field while working in an independent clinical setting in Melbourne, Victoria. With a strong foundation in diagnostics and rehabilitation, Stephanie has been supporting MED-EL’s hearing implant partners across Melbourne & Sydney since 2021.
In her role as Clinical Specialist, she is dedicated to delivering evidence-based, patient-centred care and advancing best practices in the hearing implant field.
Meet Lisa
Lisa Singer is a Key Account Manager at Cochlear, working with hearing health professionals and ENT surgeons across Victoria and Tasmania to enhance patient access and provide surgical support for cochlear implant services. After completing her Masters of Clinical Audiology at the University
of Melbourne in 2009, she worked in hospitals including The Royal Children's Hospital, Barwon Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Her passion for equitable hearing care has taken her to remote communities in the Northern Territory, Pacific Islands, and Zambia. Lisa joined Cochlear ANZ in 2018 and focuses on strengthening clinical collaboration, supporting surgical teams, and expanding access to implantable hearing solutions.
Cochlear
Meet Lisa
Lisa Singer is a Key Account Manager at Cochlear, working with hearing health professionals and ENT surgeons across Victoria and Tasmania to enhance patient access and provide surgical support for cochlear implant services. After completing her Masters of Clinical Audiology at the University
of Melbourne in 2009, she worked in hospitals including The Royal Children's Hospital, Barwon Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Her passion for equitable hearing care has taken her to remote communities in the Northern Territory, Pacific Islands, and Zambia. Lisa joined Cochlear ANZ in 2018 and focuses on strengthening clinical collaboration, supporting surgical teams, and expanding access to implantable hearing solutions.
Meet Sylvia
Sylvia Tari has worked at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Cochlear Implant Clinic for 25 years as both a clinical and research audiologist. She currently works as a Research Coordinator and Case Manager for patients participating in clinical trials, evaluating new implantable hearing devices and related technologies.
Throughout her career, Sylvia has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented at workshops and conferences both nationally and internationally. She is particularly passionate about working with older adults who generously volunteer for research studies, drawing inspiration from the wisdom and life experience they share. Her enduring passion is helping people achieve a better quality of life through improved hearing.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Sylvia
Sylvia Tari has worked at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Cochlear Implant Clinic for 25 years as both a clinical and research audiologist. She currently works as a Research Coordinator and Case Manager for patients participating in clinical trials, evaluating new implantable hearing devices and related technologies.
Throughout her career, Sylvia has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented at workshops and conferences both nationally and internationally. She is particularly passionate about working with older adults who generously volunteer for research studies, drawing inspiration from the wisdom and life experience they share. Her enduring passion is helping people achieve a better quality of life through improved hearing.
Meet Raoul
Raoul Wills has been an audiologist at the Cochlear Implant Clinic since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2015. Raoul specialises in adult rehabilitation and tele-audiology.
With a background in linguistics and multimedia, Raoul has a keen interest in developing new ways for patients and clinicians to engage and work towards improved hearing outcomes. Raoul has experience as a lecturer in the field of cochlear implants. He currently coordinates the Victorian Cochlear Implant Programme.
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
Meet Raoul
Raoul Wills has been an audiologist at the Cochlear Implant Clinic since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2015. Raoul specialises in adult rehabilitation and tele-audiology.
With a background in linguistics and multimedia, Raoul has a keen interest in developing new ways for patients and clinicians to engage and work towards improved hearing outcomes. Raoul has experience as a lecturer in the field of cochlear implants. He currently coordinates the Victorian Cochlear Implant Programme.