Since 2001 the Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Conference has served to showcase best practice in newborn hearing screening and related services. The Conference has played an important role in the development and improvement of such programs across Australia and New Zealand. The inaugural Conference gave rise to the National Consensus Statement on Newborn Hearing Screening which was a most significant part of the lobbying effort to introduce programs of UNHS in Australia. The conference continues to play a role in ensuring that standards of coverage and standards of quality in the delivery of screening and associated services around Australasia are maintained and continuously improved.
Each ANHS Conference brings together leaders in the field from across Australia and New Zealand. In addition, key-note presenters from across the world have contributed to great effect. This conference is no exception. Our featured speakers at this conference, Dr Sue Archbold, of the Ear Foundation in Nottingham, Dr Stephen Walker of the Cognitive Institute, and Professor Harvey Dillon of the National Acoustic Laboratories continue a great tradition of eminent national and international contribution to our deliberations.
Like the previous eight conferences, this meeting provides the opportunity to strive for best practice by sharing information and experiences. The Melbourne Conference organising team comprising Zeffie Poulakis, Melinda Barker, Gabrielle Kavanagh, and Valerie Sung deserve our thanks for their efforts in the organization of this conference. Similarly, the Program Committee comprising Zeffie Poulakis, Rachael Beswick, Anne Porter, Kirsty Gardner-Berry, Alison King, Valerie Sung, Susie Costello and Moira McLeod also deserve great credit for their development and delivery of a comprehensive conference program—a program that I am sure you will find most stimulating and enjoyable.
Prof. Greg Leigh, AO
Chair, Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee