A father of 3 children diagnosed with profound hearing loss is donning lycra and preparing to ride 1,000 km to raise funds for Monash Children’s Hospital.
Clay Durbridge and his partner, Emma Dillon, were shocked when their 18-month-old daughter, Frankie, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in both ears.
‘As new parent we didn’t have a reference point,’ said Clay.
‘She had passed a newborn hearing screening, but a few people suggested she should get checked for hearing, so we were referred to the audiology unit at Monash Children’s Hospital.’
The couple from Bentleigh East were told Frankie would need a cochlear implant to help her develop speech and language skills.
‘I thought, “Great, we’ve got this diagnosis we’re going to just drive down to the pharmacy and have a prescription filled, and within 2 weeks it’ll be all sorted,” shared Clay, reflecting on how little he knew about hearing loss at the time.
Frankie had a successful bilateral cochlear implant and the couple went on to have daughter Mahli and son Sonny.
Like their big sister, Mahli and Sonny were born with hearing and later diagnosed with profound hearing loss.
‘There’s no history of it in our family, so we spent a bit of time with the genetics team at Monash.’
‘There was a bit of a belief that potentially it’s only going to affect girls. But Sonny followed the same pattern — the testing at 11 months was all good and then the testing at 12 months showed his hearing was all gone.’
All 3 children now have cochlear implants and are thriving.
‘Exceptional’ care
The care provided by Monash Children’s Hospital left a lasting impression on the couple.
‘The care we received at Monash Children’s Hospital was exceptional. The team showed such compassion during a challenging time, and we’ll always be grateful,’ said Emma.
Staff cared for and supported the family during the children’s initial diagnosis and guided them through the process of receiving bilateral cochlear implants.
‘As a parent, it’s daunting when your children aren’t well. But to go to a place where you feel safe and cared for, and there’s a real personal side to how you are treated, makes the experience easier,’ said Clay.
‘The hospital’s a fantastic resource in Victoria, the care and support is outstanding.’
Cycling challenge
In support of Monash Children’s Hospital, Clay is taking part in the 2026 Melbourne Chain Reaction Challenge (1 to 7 March).
The 7-day, 1,000 km cycle ride from Sydney to Melbourne is raising funds to support the work of Monash Children’s Hospital and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
‘This ride is my way of giving back and helping ensure other families receive the same level of care and support when they need it most.’
The Audiology team at Monash Children’s Hospital is delighted by Clay’s efforts.
‘We’re touched and incredibly proud that Clay has chosen to give back to the hospital in this way,’ said audiologist Nigel Yam, who has cared for all 3 children over many years.
‘The diagnosis of profound hearing loss in a child can be frightening and overwhelming for families. Our team is dedicated to guiding and supporting parents, like Clay and Emma, as they navigate the unexpected. We know that early diagnosis can be life changing, enabling early interventions that help children learn to communicate.’
Clay and his 9 Qualitas teammates will be cycling alongside Monash Children’s Hospital clinicians, Dr Rob Roseby, Dr Cathy McAdam, Dr Sabine Hennel and Dr Toby Van Hest.
‘I’m so proud of Clay for taking on the Chain Reaction Challenge ride. It’s an incredible challenge, and the fact that it supports such an important cause makes it even more special for our family,’ said Emma.
To support Clay, please visit: https://www.chain-reaction.org.au/fundraisers/claydurbridge
Or get behind the Monash Children’s Hospital team’s fundraising journey at: https://www.chain-reaction.org.au/fundraisers/monashchildrenshospital2026/2026-melbourne-challenge
