
About Kids Hearing
Support Learning. Start with Hearing.
Kids Hearing was founded with the help of a respected female-led team of healthcare and educational professionals (and mothers themselves), who identified a gap in access to hearing services for children.
Although hearing is essential for learning, many children lack timely access. Teachers often recommend hearing checks, and GPs make referrals but families are frequently met with barriers such as cost, eligibility restrictions, and long wait times.
Kids Hearing bridges this gap, delivering hearing assessments in-clinic and in-school.
Our Mission
To ensure every child has optimal hearing for learning. By delivering on-site school screenings and providing comprehensive in-clinic follow-up, early identification of hearing concerns ensures children receive the support and management they need to learn, communicate, and thrive — while also supporting parents and teachers.
Our Commitment
With 15–20 years of professional experience each—and as mothers to 12 children between us—we combine clinical expertise with personal understanding of how crucial hearing is for a child’s learning and development. We understand the importance first hand.
The Founder Behind Kids Hearing

With both local and international experience across Australia and Singapore, Melisha has made significant contributions to the field of audiology—through award-winning conference presentations, published research, book chapters, and media features.
During her time in Singapore, Melisha led a successful school-based hearing screening program in elite Singapore schools and saw firsthand the value of integrating audiology into education settings.“Children were assessed in school, identified early and received timely support. Teachers could implement learning plans and further assessments without delay, they weren't awaiting on parents for a hearing result. This streamlined the process and resulted in better outcomes across the board.”
Inspired by this model, Melisha considered this in Sydney—where she observed a lack of hearing services once children entered school. Despite hearing being essential for classroom learning, many children experienced delays as parents faced long wait times, or cost barriers when trying access audiology services. While working at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, this gap became even more apparent. Despite families actively engaging in therapies, hearing assessments were often overlooked—even by the most dedicated teachers and professionals.
While completing further university studies, one of her assignments was to develop a model that connects paediatric audiology with education. “Other services like speech and occupational therapy are now integrated into schools—how can audiology not be considered essential when classroom learning relies on a child listening to their teacher?"
This led to the creation of Kids Hearing—an innovative model of care promoting educational audiology in schools, and dedicating services exclusively to children’s hearing assessments.
Publications
LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS:
Sirisena, M. (2023). Trusting your clinical instincts. In Audiology Now (Issue 93 September 2023) page 19-21.
Sirisena, M., Birman, C, McKibbin, A. and O’Brien, K. (2018). Bilateral auditory ossicular expansions in a child with beta-thalassemia major: Case report and literature review. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol.112:126-131.
Sirisena, M., McKibbin, A., and O’Brien, K. (2016). Hearing loss. In Giles, M (Vol 3, Chapter 26). Symptom Oriented Approach to Otorhinolaryngology. India, Bangalore; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
Thesis: Naidoo, M., McMahon, C., & Sharma, M. (2009). Rapid Acquisition of Auditory Evoked Potentials. Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Sirisena. M., and Singh-Bains, G. The First 2000 Days Showcase: Tales and Fails in Paediatric Audiology. Oral Presentation. Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Sydney, 6 September 2024.
Sirisena, M. Case report: When Your Clinical Instinct Trumps the Doctor and the Literature, Go with Your Gut. Oral Presentation. Audiology Society of Australia Conference, Gold Coast 8-10 May 2023.
Sirisena, M. Case report: when ototoxicity is not the culprit. Oral Presentation. Audiology Society of Australia Conference, Perth, 14-17 Feb 2021 (accepted oral presentation- cancelled due to COVID)
Sirisena, M. and Ng, L. Challenges in The Delivery of Rehabilitation Services to NICU Patients. VIII Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Conference (ANHSC), Sydney, 18-20 June 2015.
Naidoo, M. “She’s not making much progress in speech therapy”: Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. Oral Presentation. Audiology Australia XX National Conference, Adelaide, 1-4 July 2012.
Naidoo, M., McMahon, C., and Sharma., M. Rapid Acquisition of Auditory Evoked Potentials. Oral Presentation. Audiology Australia XIX National Conference, Sydney, 16-19 May 2010.
ONLINE & PUBLISHED MEDIA:
Sirisena, M. Macquarie University Alumini #coffeecatchup (April 2025). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/melishasirisena_its-rare-that-our-paths-cross-professionally-activity-7338733771606630401-xqW5
Sirisena, M. NSW Health Government Website. Careers at NSW Health (2025). https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/careers/Pages/default.aspx
Sirisena, M. Champions for Children. The Children’s Hospital Westmead, Sydney, Australia (2025) https://www.instagram.com/westmeadkids/?locale=fr_ca&hl=en
Sirisena, M. Ministry of Health and Department of Education Virtual Careers Fairs (2023). Promotion of Allied Health to New Graduates.
Sirisena, M. Audiological Society of Australia (2024). Call for Presentations Social Media.
https://www.instagram.com/audiology.australia/p/DAFaQaGMB7f/
Sirisena, M. Audiological Society of Australia (2024). Speaker Interview Q & A.
Sirisena, M. Audiological Society of Australia (2023). Speaker Interview recruiting video “What do you love about being an audiologist?”.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/543784527931037
Sirisena, M. Ministry of Health (2022) NSW Allied Health Brand and Recruiting video.
Sirisena, M. & Jefferson, N (producer). Understanding Paediatric Audiology. ENT Expert Opinion. Audio podcast.
Retrieved from http://www.entexpertopinion.com/Podcasts.html (4 April 2014 12.09pm).
FUNDING GRANTS, AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS:
Health Education and Training Institute (HETI) 2024. Transdisciplinary Learning for Change. University of Technology Sydney.
Sirisena, M. Audiological Society of Australia Conference 2023 (Gold Coast). Awarded Best Clinical Presentation: When Your Clinical Instinct Trumps the Doctor and the Literature: Go With Your Gut. Case presentation Thalassemia and Conductive Hearing Loss. https://audiology.asn.au/membership/scholarships-and-awards/
Sirisena, M. Allied Health Workplace Learning Grant (HETI). The Children's Hospital at Westmead. 2022/2023.
Sirisena, M. Allied Health Workplace Learning Grant (HETI). The Children's Hospital at Westmead. 2016/2017.
Naidoo, M. Audiological Society of Australia Conference 2012 (Adelaide). Awarded the inaugural Laurie Upfold Award for Best Presentation “She’s not making much progress in Speech Therapy. Case Presentation Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. https://audiology.asn.au/membership/scholarships-and-awards/