Tasmanian Audiologists
Our family has been part of the Tasmanian community since 2007. A story of a local family business.
Our story began in 2005 when our co-founder, Heidi Modrovich, started her job as a Hearing Aid Product Specialist for Oticon Australia and was assigned Tasmania as one of the territories she was responsible for. This meant she travelled from Melbourne to Tassie every 3 weeks. She just fell in love with the place.
People here are relaxed. As clinicians, I could see that we can really take the time to listen to the clients. Audiologists are not rushed through appointments compared to the Mainland. It was a real drawcard for Nick and I to move here. We always wanted our own private practice, a place to call home and somewhere beautiful to raise our family. Tassie is perfect!
There is something special about the community here. The past decade of running our private practice and getting to know new clients and friends, you become more than just an Audiologist. You become a part of the fabric of the place where you put your heart.
– Heidi Modrovich, CEO & Principle Audiologist
BSc., Grad. Dip. Aud Sci., M.Clin.Aud. (C.C.P.)
Nick graduated from The University of Melbourne as an Audiologist in 1999. Nick has worked with many private corporate clinics across metropolitan Melbourne, country Victoria, and South Australia. Nick’s keen belief in continuous improvement saw that he was given mentoring roles early in his career, which then led to several management positions across Victoria.
His experience as a clinical trainer meant that he was quick to address the skills shortage in hearing healthcare in Tasmania by establishing a training clinic within his first private practice.
Nick is a specialist in Tinnitus Therapy; as well as Vestibular Function Testing. Nick has a passion for bringing the latest technologies and therapeutic techniques to Tasmanian clients. Nick is responsible for the clinical direction of the company, and strives to provide a one stop shop for hearing care for all Tasmanians.
Outside of work, Nick likes to spend time at the gym, bike riding with his kids, travelling, and kickboxing. He is one hell of a cook, and has been known to whip up a mean Hungarian goulash on special occasions!
BA., BSc., M.Clin.Aud (C.C.P), Dip. Clin. Hypnosis & Strategic Psychotherapy, MBA (W.O. McCarthy Medalist)
Heidi graduated from The University of Melbourne as an Audiologist in 2001. She has worked across Australia in the private sector of Audiology for much of her career. Notably, she was the Audiological Product & Sales Specialist for Oticon Australia for Vic, WA & TAS for many years. Her role saw her providing clinical and sales support for clinic owners around the country. It was during this time that her passion for entrepreneurship began.
In 2007, along with Nick, their first private practice was founded and quickly grew into 7 clinics across Tasmania under Heidi’s strategic direction. The success of that business led to finalist status in the Telstra Business Awards; and Heidi, herself, was shortlisted for the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in 2015.
Not to do things by halves, Heidi saw a need to further her business knowledge, and graduated from the University of Tasmania MBA program as the highest achieving graduate of 2015 which earned her the prestigious W. O. McCarthy Academic Medal. Heidi works also as a business coach & mentor; and is a qualified Hypnotherapist and NLP mindset coach.
In her down time, Heidi is a busy school mum who enjoys spending time with her many cats, walking her dog, having fun with her kids, photography, and getting her tap shoes out every Thursday night at the local dance school in Kingston!
A Successful Partnership
Nick & Heidi celebrated their 15 year wedding anniversary in 2020. Having been in small business together since 2007, they are often asked how they are able to balance marriage and working together? Although, they are still learning from each other, they believe that honest, respectful communication, and nurturing the space for each other to grow in integrity is the secret. This is something they carry into their business, their clinical work, and their family life.
Why was Ability Hearing and Balance established?
In 2007, the couple moved to Hobart to take over ownership of AudioClinic Hobart due to the retirement of its previous owner. At the time, it was the last remaining semi-franchise of this brand in the country. They changed the business name to AudioClinic Tasmania and quickly grew the business to 7 clinics across the state. Their private practice was recognised as Finalist in the 2010 & 2011 Telstra Small Business Awards. Following their 10 year franchise agreement, AudioClinic Tasmania was handed back, to be vertically integrated into the retail arm of Oticon Australia.
Having settled into life in Tassie, they decided it was high time for an independent, 100% locally owned audiology clinic to make its mark. A private practice that understood its place in the community – one that is built on trust and old fashioned values. A clinic where clients can have access to all the hearing aid brands, where clinicians are not restricted by what they can prescribe. A clinic that places higher value on people than numbers. A place where their team have the freedom to carry out their work with accountability and integrity.
Ability Hearing and Balance was established in 2020 in the midst of a challenging year. We stand for resilience, hard work, and continuously finding better ways of doing things to make a difference in our community.
Thank you for supporting a local, small business.