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Dr Kirsty Gardner-Berry Receives OAM

We have some very exciting news.

In the 2019 Honour Roles for Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia), Dr Kirsty Gardiner-Berry was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to audiology.

Kirsty has been with Paragon Care for over 15 years (as a part of Scanmedics) as our Clinical Consultant for the New Born Hearing Screening therapeutic area.

The award was presented at Government house in a special ceremony from NSW Governor, Margaret Beazley AC.

Why did Kirsty get the award?

This is the transcript from the actual ceremony that outlines why Kirsty was given the award.

“Dr Kirsty Gardiner Berry was instrumental in the state-wide introduction and implementation of the State-Wide Screening of Infant Hearing (SWISH) program, which provides free screening for hearing loss for all newborns in NSW.  Her tireless work has helped transform the detection of hearing loss in children.”  

“A specialist in Electrocochleography testing at the Sydney Cochlear Implant centre, she’s a member of the Australasia New Born Hearing Screening committee serving for many years as the co-chair of the Sydney Organisation of the Universal Newborn Deafness Screening (SOUNDS).”

This is a huge achievement and we are very proud of Kirsty’s achievements.

Who is Dr Kirsty Gardner-Berry?

Kirsty has been working as an audiologist for over 25 years, with a particular focus on paediatric audiology and the use of electrophysiological testing techniques to assist in the management of infants and children with hearing loss.

Kirsty completed her Bachelor of Science and post-graduate studies in Audiology at the University of Melbourne; her Masters in Audiology at Macquarie University; and Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney. Kirsty currently works as a diagnostic audiologist at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre, and a clinical consultant in newborn hearing screening for Scanmedics.

Kirsty’s PhD was undertaken at the National Acoustic Laboratories on the topic of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) in infants. This included studying the use of electrocochleography (ECochG), auditory brainstem response, cochlear implant electrical auditory brainstem response (ImpEABR), and cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) in this patient group.  Kirsty also has a particular interest in the early identification of hearing loss through newborn hearing screening, and is on the Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Committee. 

What is the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)?

In the Australian honours system, appointments to the Order of Australia give recognition for outstanding achievement and service. The Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) is awarded for service worthy of particular recognition. Recipients of the Order of Australia are from many different fields.

How it is awarded?

The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens. 

Except for Knights and Dames, nominations for awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia come directly from the community. 

Once a nomination is submitted, the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat at Government House in Canberra conducts further research and contacts referees. Nominations are considered by the Council of the Order of Australia which makes recommendations direct to the Governor-General.

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