Your Committee

Penny has had a bilateral sensorial hearing loss for over 50 years and was implanted in 2014 with a Cochlear Nucleus 6, she upgraded to a Cochlear Nucleus 7 in 2019 and wears a Resound ENZO 2 in her other ear. She is currently being assessed to become a Bilateral recipient.
She has been involved with Hearing Loss organisations in a voluntary capacity for many years, she was secretary of Better Hearing Australia Sunshine Coast Branch for 12 years and has been a member of CICADA Queensland for 6 years, taking on the role of Sunshine Coast Representative conducting regular monthly Meet ups.
She is passionate about helping and supporting anyone with a Cochlear Implant or considering one, as well as people with any form of hearing loss.

In her late teens Joyclyn was diagnosed with Otosclerosis which is an inherited condition that affects the middle ear and is usually passed from mother to daughter.
At 28 years she had Stapedectomy surgery which removes the tiny bones of the middle ear and replaces them with a prothesis. Her hearing did improve slightly but later wore hearing aids and over time wore various brands and models until at 72 years old decided to have a CI implant.

Joyclyn currently uses the AB Naida Q90 Connect system which is bluetooth compatible. with a variety of accessories to assist with hearing in groups and meetings to streaming the TV directly to her CI and HL aid.
Joyclyn came into contact with Cicada Sunshine Coast before surgery to gain further understanding of the CI process and outcome. She is proud to be an AB Mentor and a member of Cicada Queensland Support Group in the hope of encouraging others to a better hearing future.

Laura Drexler is the creator of the Ambient Menu.

A website that guides hearing impaired people and their families, to conversation friendly eateries so they can connect, relax, and remain social. I currently work as an Audiologist and I designed the Ambient Menu with my patients in mind, I understand their struggle in background noise. I too struggle to hear speech in background noise due to auditory processing difficulties. So, I not only treat my community and guide them to quiet restaurants, but I am also my audience and I use the website whenever I dine out.  After spending over 20 years in SA Ambulance as Paramedic, my interest in Audiology was sparked after several defining moment. Patients with vestibular issues, a husband with vertigo, occupational hearing loss and debilitating tinnitus. He received significant relief from visiting several Audiologists, and I was intrigued and fascinated by the field. I decided to transition from pre hospital health, to allied health and successfully undertook my Masters of Audiology whilst still working as a Paramedic, fitness instructor and caring for my family.   I now work part-time at an Independent Audiology Clinic, another day with an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist, plus running the Ambient Menu. My main clinic focus is educating patients on communication strategies and giving them honest advice so they feel confident and empowered to engage in conversation once again. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the significant improvements my personalised advice on communication strategies or hearing devices (if required) can make to their lives.   Whilst doing my Master's Research project in 2019, the team investigated the topic of commensality, the act of sharing a meal with others. This is something close to my heart because I love food, my friends, good conversation, and enjoy these things together. I wanted all my patients to enjoy it too and what I discovered during the research project led me to create the Ambient Menu website, so they could.  If I had to list my favourite things they are my family, food, my job, and creating memories with the special people in my life. I’m hoping the Ambient Menu will give others the opportunity to do that to.