News Alert |

Six key City of Ballarat venues now have new hearing augmentation equipment, to extend and improve access for the deaf and hard of hearing. 

From July, the Town Hall Council Chambers, Customer Service at The Phoenix, the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre (BALC), the Ballarat Library, Wendouree Library and Art Gallery of Ballarat all have new or upgraded hearing loop systems to assist any community members with a hearing loss.    

The roll out is part of the City of Ballarat’s Deaf Access program, which seeks to reduce barriers for the deaf community and to enable people with a hearing loss to fully participate in community life. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh says the new equipment makes a big difference - helping people with a hearing loss to be able to communicate with staff with ease. 

“The hearing loops at the front counters are identified by the international signage, so people with enabled hearing aids know they can talk to staff without battling background noise,” she says. 

“The other new equipment also provides people, even without hearing aids, with a more comfortable experience with communication by using the hearing receivers.” 

 The City of Ballarat’s Deaf Access program is funded through the State Government’s Building Inclusive Communities Program.