Time running out to apply for funding

People have just one week left to apply for special grants to fund projects that help the lives of the hearing impaired.

The Oticon Foundation NZ is calling for funding applications for work that contributes to improving to the lives of the hearing impaired. The cut off date is 31st March.

“The Oticon Foundation 2009 round of grant allocations comes in the midst of financial and economic uncertainty internationally and in NZ. It is at times like these that charitable organisations like the Oticon Foundation can make a contribution beyond their immediate focus,” says Karen Pullar, secretary to the Oticon Foundation Trustees.

“The foundation is pleased to be able to play its part in investing in NZ through its grants at these difficult financial times.”

The funding is a resource that people can apply for to support activity or work over and above anything they might be doing as part of their regular work or study.

Projects funded in the past year include research into the impact of noise in gyms, research into the experience of Deaf tertiary education students, support for the Oticon Foundation Hearing Education Centre at the University of Auckland and for newborn hearing screening.

University of Auckland student Gemma Whitehead has been awarded the Outstanding Research Prize for research of outstanding quality “Optimising Stimulus Parameters and Behavioural Threshold Prediction using Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE).”

Applications are invited from organisations or individuals for projects that:

• disseminate knowledge about hearing and hearing loss.

• help remedy hearing loss.

• improve the quality of life for hearing impaired individuals and their families.

• break down the stigma of hearing loss.

The Oticon Foundation in NZ was established in October 1976. It is a charitable trust of Oticon NZ Limited and aims to improve the lives of the hearing impaired through communication and knowledge. It is committed to finding better solutions to hearing loss and strives to increase public awareness and understanding of hearing impairment.