Jobs for people with a hearing impairment

Hands-on jobs

• Gardener
• Fruit picker
• Mechanic
• Chef
• Electrician
• Carpenter
• Fashion designer
• Massage therapist
• Barista
• Factory worker

Jobs that offer flexibility

• Graphic designer
• Freelance writer
• Video editor
• Makeup artist
• Personal trainer
• Dog walker
• Photographer
• Social media manager
• Software developer
• Copywriting editor

Jobs with a quiet working environment

• Graphic designer
• Software developer
• Librarian
• Writer/editor
• Photographer
• Web designer
• IT specialist

Jobs that require predominantly visual skills

• Illustrator
• Graphic designer
• Animator
• Architect
• Interior designer
• Photographer
• Landscaper
• Jewellery designer

Jobs that require predominantly written communication

• Copywriter
• Editor
• Written translator
• Social media manager
• SEO specialist
• Librarian
• Marketing manager
• Paralegal
• Grant writer

* Please note: these job suggestions may not be suitable for everyone living with a hearing impairment. These job suggestions may suit some people depending on their circumstances including, but not limited to, their current experience with their hearing impairment.

If you're living with disability, injury, or a health condition, there is support available to help you reach your goals.

Many people with hearing impairments have found successful jobs after being eligible for Disability Employment Services and APM can provide support to assist you to find work.

Disability Employment Services is a government-funded program designed to help you find and keep work and is provided at no cost to participants.

You may be eligible for help with:

• Career advice
• Finding suitable job opportunities
• Meeting local employers
• Writing resumes and job applications
• Preparing for job interviews
• Accessing training
• Accessing mental health support
• Ongoing workplace support
• Accessing funding for things like uniforms and transport
• Accessing workplace modifications to help you succeed at work
• Workplace assessments to help identify what support is right for you

Identify your strengths:

• Many strengths can come from your life experience (rather than just your work history). It’s important to identify these as they can be valuable in the workforce. 
• Your strengths could include things like attention to detail, logical thinking and fast learning that can be valuable in many roles.
• Identifying your strengths on your own can be hard. If you need a hand, our team at APM would love to help. Our goal is to help you find a job that suits your strengths, skills and interests, and we are committed to supporting you throughout the entire process.

Building a job program around you:

• Explore realistic job options where you can succeed
• Develop a personal strategy that includes job searches, resumes and interviews
• Discuss your support needs with your employer
• Look at any requirements for equipment or workplace modifications to help you perform a specific job
• Consider what support you might need when you start working

We also want to make sure you and your employer have everything you need to be a success together.

Depending on your level of support and the job you start, we work together to make sure you’re able to work safely and effectively.

This can include helping you access training, job coaching, performance monitoring, and understanding the workplace culture and what is expected from you.

We also support workplaces with proactive education to be aware of any impacts your disability may have so we can help avoid any misunderstandings and create a culture of support and inclusion.

If you need ongoing support for long periods of time we will also discuss this with you and establish a support structure.

Our goal is to see you enjoy rewarding and long-term employment and ensure you have the right level of support to succeed.

Get in touch with our teams to find out more.