Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health worker passionate about hearing, communication, and making a difference in your community? The University of Western Australia (UWA) is offering a…
Ear Health Coordination
Rural Health West, in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA), provides the Ear Health Coordination Program in Western Australia (WA). This program works collaboratively with primary health care clinics and other stakeholders to identify and support activity needed to improve ear health.
- Otitis media affects up to 91% of Aboriginal children in remote communities before the age of 3.
- Up to 80% of hearing loss in children is preventable or treatable with timely care.
- Hearing loss contributes to delayed speech and language development, reduced educational engagement, and increased social and emotional challenges.
And the consequences extend into adulthood: increased unemployment, involvement with the justice system, and higher risk of chronic mental health conditions.
Rural Health West is proud to collaborate with clinics and communities to enhance ear health prevention, monitoring and treatment, ensuring access to quality, culturally safe care and support for children and families. Key activities of the Ear Health Coordination Program include supporting primary health care services, particularly ACCHO’s through building skills and knowledge within local workforce and communities to prevent and treat ear disease, tailored resource developed and strengthened partnerships – increasing collaboration between, government, non-government and community-controlled organisations.
2025 WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum
Please see below the graphics produced during our two day event held on 7 and 8 August 2025.
Click below for presentations from the Forum
(Central) Auditory Processing Disorder
ANCHOR Project
Ear Health Coordination in the Northern Territory
Ear Irrigation with a focus on ear suctioning
The Ngaanyatjarra Health Service model
25 years of WA newborn screening featuring a Kimberley case study
Insights from the ‘Blow, Breathe, Cough’ trial from the Djaalinj Waakinj team
National Child Safety Framework Principles
Newborn Hearing Screening Program
Paediatric Hearing Registry Pilot
Understanding ear health in the East Pilbara
Previous WA Ear and Hearing Health Forums
You can find links to digital representations from previous Ear and Hearing Health Forums
Video presentations from 2024. 2022 and 2021 are also available.
Ear and Hearing Health Education and Resources
The document outlines current ear health resources and education opportunities for both local and visiting health professionals.
WA Child Ear Health Strategy
This Strategy has been developed to tackle ear disease amongst children, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia. It provides a road map for better care through multi-agency service planning, strengthened community focused partnerships, alignment of funding, and better coordination.
