The Real YouQ
Meet the new Executive Dean
of the Faculty of Health
and Behavioural Sciences,
Professor Louise Hickson AM
"Take every opportunity that comes your way as you never know what doors will open to you."
Welcome to The Real YouQ, a Contact Q&A series offering a glimpse into the real lives of members of the UQ community – from alumni to students and staff.
In this edition, we catch up with the new Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Professor Louise Hickson AM (Bachelor of Speech Therapy ’78, Bachelor of Speech Therapy (Honours) ’80, Master of Audiology ’86, Doctor of Philosophy ’95). Professor Hickson is a world leader in audiology research and has published more than 280 research articles, books and book chapters, with her main focus on the effects of hearing loss on people's everyday lives and the development of strategies and interventions that improve the uptake and outcomes of hearing rehabilitation.
A scholarship in her family's name – established as part of UQ’s Create Change initiative – will be awarded for the first time this year to a Master of Audiology student who is facing financial disadvantage.
The Hickson Family Scholarship is the first endowed scholarship for audiology and aims to facilitate the journey of deserving students to becoming audiologists, particularly through student work placements in regional centres where audiologists are urgently needed.
But who is the real Professor Hickson? Keep scrolling to find out.
Professor Louise Hickson has supervised 31 PhD students during her career at UQ.
Professor Louise Hickson has supervised 31 PhD students during her career at UQ.
Q: What is your favourite UQ memory?
A: I studied at UQ for 5 years as an undergraduate and have worked here since 1989 in many different roles, so it’s hard to pinpoint just one memory. If I have to pick just one it would be the graduation ceremony in 1995 when I received my PhD. The youngest of my 3 sons was born a few months before the ceremony and the whole family – my husband, 3 sons and my parents (who are now deceased) – were there to enjoy the moment. Everyone was so proud and it was such a special day. I still love graduations and have now attended many more as an academic and as a parent. All 3 of my boys have studied at UQ.
Q: Is there a place you feel most connected to on campus?
A: I absolutely love the Great Court and make sure to walk through it every day.
Q: Looking back to the day you first set foot on campus, is there anything you wish to tell that person now?
A: Take every opportunity that comes your way as you never know what doors will open to you. Your first degree is just the beginning.
Q: What’s one fact that people wouldn’t know about you?
A: That’s hard because I am an extroverted person and tend not to hide things from people. Maybe that I love all kinds of word games – crosswords, Scrabble, Wordle, code names, etc.
Q: Is there a skill you wish you had learnt, or one that you’re currently trying to master?
A: I am a keen golfer, but I played for a long time before having any lessons, so I wished I had started earlier. I continue to enjoy trying to master it, but golf is a game you never fully master.
Q: What are 3 things you can’t live without?
A: Family, swimming and travel.
Q: What are you currently reading?
A: I have to read so much for work that I only read for fun outside of work. Currently, it’s Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.
Q: Who are your real-life heroes?
A: I am drawn to female leaders as heroes because I think the path for them is so much harder than it is for men. On that list I would have people like Hilary Clinton, Angela Merkel, and Taylor Swift!
Q: Why did you pursue a career in audiology, and what are your key research interests?
A: I have a history of hearing loss in my family and was very close to my auntie, who suffered with her hearing loss. Her hearing loss started in her 20s and, at the time in the 1940s, there were very few treatments for her – surgical options were limited, and hearing aids were of little help. After I studied speech pathology at UQ, I decided to go on and qualify in audiology.
My research focuses on improving hearing services for people with hearing loss. Although my research has included children and adults, my main focus has been on older adults, particularly people who develop difficulties with their hearing as they age. The evidence indicates that, for a range of reasons, people typically wait 9 to 10 years after first noticing hearing difficulties before taking action, such as getting a hearing aid. This delay can have very negative effects on the person’s life, such as social isolation and depression, and probably reflects a failure of hearing services to provide the kind of person and family centred hearing care that people need.
Q: What does the Hickson Family Scholarship mean to you, and what impact do you see it having on the education and career opportunities for audiology students?
A: My hope is that the scholarship will support students, who would otherwise not have been able to study audiology. It means a great deal to me and to my family to have a legacy in the field of audiology, since the profession has been such a huge part of our lives. I am currently the President of the International Society of Audiology and, in that role, I see how much more work is needed globally to help adults and children with hearing loss. This scholarship is one small step in that direction.
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