Gina Preston

💥 LET’S GET LOUD: WHY LOUD SHIRT DAY MATTERS 💥

Monday 13th Oct

🎉 Loud Shirt Day 2025 is almost here! 🎉

Hi everyone! It's that time of year again — Loud Shirt Day is back and louder than ever!

Whether you’re returning for another year or joining us for the very first time, welcome to our 8th annual Loud Shirt Day celebration here at work!

I’m Gina Preston, and since kicking off our very first Loud Shirt Day in the Brisbane office back in 2018, it’s been such an incredible journey watching this initiative grow — from a small but mighty local team effort to a proud, global event across our offices in Australia, New Zealand, and even internationally in Egypt, Houston, Edmonton and beyond!

Each year we’ve seen more people get involved — from colleagues to senior leaders, and even our CEO and GE leadership team showing off their loudest shirts in support. This year, let’s keep that momentum going and make 2025 the loudest (and most impactful) year yet!

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❤️ Why is it important?

It’s easy to take sound for granted — a morning alarm, a colleague’s greeting, laughter in the lunchroom, the subtle shift in tone during a conversation. But for someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, these everyday moments can be filled with uncertainty, frustration, and quiet isolation.

Imagine sitting in a meeting and everyone laughs — but you missed the joke. You smile along, pretending to follow, but inside, you’re left wondering what was said.
Or you’re in a noisy café trying to keep up with a group conversation, but the words blur together like static — and it’s exhausting just trying to keep up.
Maybe it’s the sinking feeling of walking into a training session or team huddle, knowing there’s no captioning or assistive support, so once again, you’ll be playing catch-up.

Still not sure what that feels like? Imagine watching your favourite movie — but with no subtitles and the sound turned off.
You see the lips move. You catch some expressions. But you miss the punchlines, the emotion in the music, and the context that brings it all together.
That’s what hearing loss can be like — not just silence, but being left out.

Hearing loss is often invisible. Because you can’t see it, it’s easily misunderstood or overlooked. But that doesn’t make the impact any less real.

That’s why Loud Shirt Day matters.
It’s not just about wearing colourful clothes — it’s about standing up for inclusion, awareness, and accessibility.
It’s about saying, “We see you, we hear you, and you belong here.”

By taking part, you’re helping to break down barriers and ensure that no one is excluded — not in the workplace, not in the classroom, not in life — just because they experience the world differently.

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💡 What is Loud Shirt Day?

Great question! Loud Shirt Day happens every October and is all about coming together — in your brightest, boldest, loudest shirts — to support deaf and hard-of-hearing children and their families. But it’s more than just a colourful day at work.

It’s a chance to raise awareness about hearing loss, promote inclusion in our workplaces and communities, and support the incredible work of Hear and Say, a non-profit organisation helping children access life-changing hearing technology and speech therapy.

With your support, we're helping give these kids the best chance at a life full of sound, opportunity, and independence.

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👂 Why does it matter?

Loud Shirt Day is fun — no doubt about that. But behind the bright colours is a powerful message: that invisible disabilities like hearing loss deserve recognition, support, and understanding.

As part of our All Abilities network, this day is an opportunity to not only celebrate our differences, but to help create a workplace culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and heard — literally and figuratively.

Sharing stories, building awareness, and fostering a culture of empathy and action helps make our teams stronger and more connected.

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💬 Why is it personal to me?

I’m proud to be one of the Loud Shirt Ambassadors for Hear and Say — and even prouder to say that this cause hits close to home.

I received my cochlear implants when I was nearly 2 years old, and I know what a huge difference early intervention and the right support can make.

Without Hear and Say, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do today — from enjoying music and movies, to travelling solo around the world, to working alongside all of you at a job I love. But it didn’t happen overnight.

Learning to hear with cochlear implants is a process. Think of it like charging a phone from 0% — it takes time, effort, and consistency. From speech therapy to hearing tests and countless learning sessions, it took a village and years of work to get where I am now.

That’s why I’m so passionate about giving back — to help other kids and families walk this journey with the same hope and opportunity that I was given.

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📅 So what’s next?

• Mark your calendars for Loud Shirt Day 2025 — and start digging through your wardrobe (or better yet, go shopping for something outrageously loud!).

• Keep an eye on here for updates, photos, and ways to get involved.

• And if you’re able, consider donating or fundraising to help us support Hear and Say — every dollar makes a real difference.

Let’s make some noise, have some fun, and raise awareness and funds for an amazing cause.

Let’s be LOUD for those who can’t hear without help.

Can’t wait to see your wildest shirts and brightest smiles this October! 💥👕🌈

With gratitude,
Gina Preston
Loud Shirt Day Ambassador & Proud All Abilities Advocate

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