GRAD GALLERY
What led you to your current position? Jody Vaughan Africa bit.ly/2QJ5JOB
Current position: Managing Director at Afrihear Hearing Solutions Audiologist at Port Alfred Hospital
Academic history: 2011 - 2014 Bachelor of Science Honours in Audiology at UCT
I graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree in Audiology in 2014, after which I was afforded the opportunity to complete my community service year at Port Alfred Hospital in 2015. This led me to apply to be permanently appointed and I’ve been heading the Audiology department at Port Alfred Hospital ever since. I’ve always known that there was a gap in the private Audiology services and especially mobile hearing services in Port Alfred and the surrounding areas since most of the population is elderly and not as mobile. In 2018, I was fortunate to be afforded the opportunity to act on this gap in the market and I formed my own small, mobile hearing healthcare service.
What are your responsibilities as Managing Director? Since my business is small, my role varies from marketing, sales, administration and consulting. I think it is essential to fulfill as many roles yourself as possible when running a small business in order to cut down costs. This also allowed me to learn a few new skills, for example, I registered my business myself, designed the logo, and did my own digital marketing; all of which I learned along the way. In private practice you have to actively search for clients until you get to a point where your public and social media presence has grown enough to allow people to find you with ease
What value does your qualification add to your work? Holding a BSc (Hons) degree is the minimum educational requirement in order to practice as a registered Audiologist in South Africa. A Master’s degree would be beneficial to pursue a career in lecturing, research or to practise abroad (in some countries it is required). However, it usually does not directly affect the work we do in consulting, unless the topic is based on a particular clinical aspect [that you have researched] or if it allows you to broaden your scope and apply for a promotion perhaps in the field of public health or management.
CAREERS SERVICE GUIDE 2021 / 131
