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Merry Christmas from Rural Health West
Welcome to the Rural Health West ear health e-bulletin - December 2024
Rural Health West is the jurisdictional fundholder of the Outreach programs funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. The Healthy Ears - Better Hearing, Better Listening Outreach program aims to increase access to a range of ear health services, including expanding primary health to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth (0-21 years) for the diagnosis, treatment and management of ear and hearing health.
Rural Health West works closely with the Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA) to provide the Ear Health Coordination Program in Western Australia (WA). The aim of the program is to work collaboratively with primary health care clinics and other stakeholders to identify and support activities needed to improve ear health across Western Australia.
The Ear Health Coordination Program e-bulletin provides quarterly updates where we reflect the wonderful work of the ear:
- the outer ear - where we collect sound waves in the form of good news stories to share experiences and learnings from stakeholders across WA;
- the middle ear - where we transmit vibrations via our ossicles: an update from Rural Health West, AHCWA and from ear health stakeholder groups; and
- the inner ear - transferring sound waves to nerve messages through our resources section where updated and new resources will be made available.
If you have a story, partnership or learning you would like us to feature in the next e-bulletin, please email outreach@ruralhealthwest.com.au.
WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum 2025
Save the date!
In collaboration with the WA Child Ear Health Strategy and the Aboriginal Health Council of WA, Rural Health West will be hosting the annual WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 August 2025. This Forum will coincide with Rural Health West’s Aboriginal Health Conference. The two-day Forum will focus on regional ear health initiatives, successes and challenges, technologies and research in ear and hearing health through interactive discussions and practical upskilling.
As a prelude to the WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum, AHCWA will be hosting an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) members only Forum on Wednesday 6 August 2025. This Forum will highlight success stories and speakers to discuss the progression of Closing the Gap relevant to ear and hearing health for the ACCHS sector.
If you would like to register your interest to attend the 2025 Forum, please contact the Regional Services team at outreach@ruralhw.com.au.
To view graphic illustrations from the 2024 WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum, please click here.
Rural Health Outreach Services contract update
An update on Outreach contracts:
- Rural Health West has received a Deed of Variation to extend the Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP), Eye and Ear Surgical Support (EESS) and the Coordination of Indigenous Eye Health (CIEH) from the 30 June 2025 to 30 June 2026.
- All contracts through the Healthy Ears – Better Hearing, Better Listening (HEBHBL) and the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) will expire 30 June 2026.
- All contracts through Rural Health Outreach Fund (RHOF) will expire 30 June 2025.
Rural Health West expects to receive notification on the continuation of the RHOF program beyond 30 June 2025, by December 2024.
Rural Health West will provide further information on the review of Indigenous Australian Health Programs (MOICDP, EESS, HEBHBL and VOS) through the First Nations Health Funding Transition Program as it becomes available.
WA Rural Health Conference 2025 - Register now!
Perth - Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March 2025
Registrations for the WA Rural Health Conference 2025 which will be taking place at the Pan Pacific Perth Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March 2025 have now opened. The Conference will be an opportunity to connect with health professionals from a variety of disciplines who all play a part in delivering vital healthcare services across rural WA.
If you would like to register you interest to attend the WA Rural Health Conference 2025, please register your interest here.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare | data report released
Ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2024
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has been passed down the generations for tens of thousands of years using language and storytelling. Having healthy ears and being able to hear well supports language development and transmission of culture through speech, as well as learning, employment and social and community connections.
Information about ear and hearing health among First Nations people and their access to ear and hearing health services helps develop health policy and plan health services. This is the third Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) national report on the ear and hearing health of First Nations children and adults.
This report is prepared with expert guidance from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ear and Hearing Health Data and Reporting Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Kelvin Kong.
To view report please visit Australian Institute of Health & Welfare website.
Simon Says...
AHCWA's Ear Health Program is working on health promotion initiatives to raise awareness about the impacts of ear disease and hearing loss. In July 2020, the program published the first volume of their new series Simon Says…, which aims to inform children and their families about the ways they can look after their ears and prevent the spread of illness in their community.
Outreach providers and printing of Simon Says Series
Rural Health West is offering to print a limited number of Simon Says health promotion resources for Healthy Ears, Better Hearing - Better Listening (HEBHBL) service providers.
If you are a HEBHBL provider interested in receiving printed copies of the Simon Says series for your HEBHBL visits, please submit an Expression of Interest to Rural Health West indicating the Simon Says Series and number of copies you require via outreach@ruralhw.com.au by COB 10 January 2025. Please note printing is limited, not all EOI's may be fulfilled.
Recently published Simon Says animation | "Lets Talk About Hearing Loss" YouTube video
If Service Providers have feedback from using this animation within the community, please contact Lorraine Taui, AHCWA Ear Health Program Coordinator via Lorraine.Taui@ahcwa.org
A Child Ear Health Strategy 2017 - 2021
The WA Child Ear Health Strategy has been developed to tackle ear disease amongst children, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in WA. A number of stakeholders share responsibility for addressing and improving ear and hearing health conditions amongst children. It has been informed by, and is aligned with, a number of key national and State reports, frameworks, guidelines and principles. The Strategy aims to promote an agreed, evidence based and sustainable approach across government and non-government agencies and service providers.
Please note the WA Child Ear Health Strategy is undergoing revisions. An updated version of the Strategy Recommendations will be available for viewing in the coming months.
2020 Otitis Media Guidelines
Download a link to the 2020 Otitis Media Guidelines or the app here.
The First Nations Support Line
Hearing Australia provide a free First Nations Support Line which offers general information and help to increase access to culturally appropriate, timely and accurate ear and hearing health information for First Nations people and health professionals working with First Nations people and communities.
The First Nations Support Line is available Monday-Friday, 8.30am-5.00pm AEST on 1300 253 655.
Find out more by visiting the Hearing Australia website at hearing.com.au or email FirstNations@hearing.com.au or phone the Perth Hearing Centre on 08 9226 7100.
My Health Record
My Health Record is a secure online summary of key patient health information. Healthcare providers can access the system to view and add information. My Health Record education and training resources can be accessed below:
- Webinars on the website and YouTube
- Request a presentation from the Australian Digital Health Agency Educator via the Agency website
Webinars and podcasts
WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum (facilitated by Aboriginal Health Council of WA and Rural Health West) Presentations can be found here.
2021 & 2022 Forums - presentation recordings are available.
2023 & 2024 Forums - graphic minutes available; with recordings to be available shortly.
Subscribe to the Ear Health Coordination E-Bulletin
As part of the Ear Health Coordination Program, a quarterly newsletter is distributed to provide new, important information and updates where we reflect the wonderful work of the ear health services across the state. If you wish to subscribe please email outreach@ruralhw.com.au
The Outreach programs are delivered by Rural Health West on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
