As part of its commitment to building the future hearing-health workforce, the Australian Future Hearing Initiative (AFHI) supports Girls in STEM outreach workshops that introduce young women to the science of hearing and diverse career pathways in this field.

At Macquarie University, the workshops are delivered by the ECHO Lab team, who lead several of the research projects within AFHI. The half-day program gives students a hands-on introduction to hearing science through tours of specialist research facilities, demonstrations of clinical technologies used to examine the ear and hearing, and interactive listening activities that show how background noise affects communication.

A central theme of the workshop is the translational pathway of research. Students learn how scientific questions move from laboratory investigation to collaboration with clinicians and industry partners, and ultimately into technologies and clinical practices that improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. By highlighting research conducted within AFHI, the program demonstrates how universities, healthcare professionals, and technology companies work together to address real-world hearing challenges.