Tackling the audiologist shortage

It goes without saying that hearing health is essential for wellbeing. People with treated hearing loss tend to be happier, have more fulfilling relationships, and are less likely to develop dementia than those left undiagnosed and untreated. However, while 53 per cent of New Zealanders think they have some degree of hearing loss, only one in four are planning a hearing test in the next 12 months.^[1]

While part of this issue stems from a lack of understanding about the importance of a proactive approach to hearing health, we think it is also due to the lack of capacity in the audiology sector. But there are some actionable steps the country and industry can take to improve the situation.

There is a chronic shortage of audiologists in New Zealand. This reflects the labour constraints being experienced by most sectors of our economy. We frequently have positions open for audiologists, some of which receive little to no interest, simply due to a lack of available talent. This is not just an issue in private practice either, with positions readily available in both the public and hospital environments too. The flow on effect is that New Zealanders are waiting too long for the hearing care they need.

It’s particularly tough for clients living in rural and remote areas. Most audiologists tend to want to work in larger cities due to having family and friends close by, for lifestyle reasons, or perceived better job opportunities. This means that clinics located in smaller, regional areas are neither attractive nor sustainable in some cases. Instead, audiology companies have pop-up clinics once a fortnight or longer in these small towns, meaning waiting times in regional areas can be long.

Part of the equation is the number of audiologists we train domestically. Only the University of Auckland and the University of Canterbury offer a Master of Audiology, the qualification needed to become an audiologist in New Zealand. Both Universities do an outstanding job producing highly talented graduates – approximately 15-25 each per year. However, despite a recent uplift in the student intake each year, its apparent that we aren’t producing enough to replace those either retiring, going on parental leave or moving overseas, let alone scale up the workforce to match the rising demand for audiology care. At Audika, our Clinical Graduate Program provides in-depth training and support, offering a seamless pathway for those audiologists graduating to go on and achieve their NZAS Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). We are also always looking to expand and work closely alongside the education providers and industry organisations to bolster training programs and opportunities further to reach the next generation of the audiology workforce.

Then comes the tricky job of retaining our audiologists. Because of the rigour and reputation of New Zealand audiology qualifications, they’re in demand across the globe. Understandably, many young people see the allure in exploring the world. But it means the New Zealand audiology industry as a whole has to find ways of becoming more attractive to international audiologists.

Sometimes audiologists who are considering moving to New Zealand cite immigration hurdles as a drawback. This may include those overseas trained audiologists wishing to practice in New Zealand; but, who cannot due to their qualification not being equivalent to the New Zealand Masters degree. Or the time it takes to obtain a working visa through immigration, and then complete the CCC process to become fully qualified without the need for supervised practice. As a result, the pool of international applicants expressing interest in working in New Zealand is relatively small.

It's time to consider what can be done to alleviate our audiologist shortage and future-proof the industry against New Zealand’s ageing population. We need more young people to consider a career in audiology and make New Zealand more attractive to international talent. This is essential to continue to deliver exceptional hearing services going forward.