Health Advocacy Campaign - Pindrop

The Launch Of A Health Advocacy Campaign: Cochlear Implants

In 2011/2012 the waiting list for a publicly funded cochlear implant for adults affected by severe hearing loss was in excess of two years, with some clients waiting up to five years.

The Pindrop Foundation wanted to address this issue and I was briefed to create a campaign to address the funding issue, in addition to the challenges around stigma and misconceptions severe and profoundly hearing impaired adults experience within the hearing community.

The solution was to develop and implement a health advocacy campaign which included a petition to parliament with the aim of attaining a meeting with the health select committee in addition to personal stories being pitched to media. Stories featured across broadcast, print, radio and online media.

The result was a petition that garnered 8,000 signatures, exceeding the threshold of 5,000 signatures needed to secure a meeting with the health select committee. We researched and wrote the submission for the Health Select Committee and supported clients with their presentation preparation.  

Six months after the select committee presentation, funding for adult cochlear implants increased by 100 %.