In August 2025, Rural Health West proudly co-hosted the fifth annual WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum, developed in collaboration with the WA Child Ear Health Strategy Steering Group and the Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA). The event is made possible through funding from the Ear Health Coordination Program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
More than 80 health professionals, researchers and service providers gathered for two days of knowledge sharing, skill development and collaboration focused on improving ear and hearing health outcomes for people across Western Australia.
Sessions explored some of the sector’s most pressing challenges, including data sharing, workforce shortages in remote communities, the importance of environmental health, and the ongoing burden of otitis media among Aboriginal children.
Practical workshops run by EarTrain equipped frontline workers with hands-on clinical skills, while presentations from researchers, coordinators and community health services highlighted what coordinated, culturally safe care can achieve.
The Forum continues to be a vital space where relationships are built, good practice is shared, and the collective commitment to health equity is renewed. Rural Health West is proud to play a central role in bringing this community of practice together each year.