Welcome to the third Rural Health West Ear Health Coordination Program e-bulletin

Rural Health West, in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA), is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health to provide the Ear Health Coordination Program in Western Australia (WA) until 30 June 2022.

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 the State.

Our goal for the Ear Health Coordination Program e-bulletin is to provide 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 with the aim 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.

THE OUTER EAR - Sharing good news stories from the ear and hearing space

Outreach ear health services to the Kimberley

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) is supported through the Healthy Ears - Better Hearing, Better Listening (HEBHBL) program to deliver a multidisciplinary health service to a number of remote communities in the Kimberley region. The outreach multidisciplinary hearing health team consists of an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist, audiologist, Aboriginal health worker and care coordinator. 

In light of challenges to workforce availability of an ENT specialist, KAMS ear health care coordinator recently proposed a general practitioner (GP) service, which has helped to embed ear and hearing health into the primary health care service within the health centres and provide more practical experience for clinical staff in the early detection of ear disease. Feedback on the change in service delivery model is described below:

“We were unable to secure an ENT specialist for this trip; however, we were able to utilise two GPs - one a KAMS GP and the other a locum. They both commented on how valuable it has been to their practice to be able to focus on child ear health, especially to be working alongside an experienced audiologist. Our audiologist imparted a lot of knowledge to the GPs and school health nurse, which was very much appreciated.” - KAMS ear health care coordinator.

We want to hear from you!

Do you have a good news story from a recent ear health visit, which highlights the importance of coordination and planning between service provider and the local community/health professionals?

Are you involved in a collaborative partnership with another ear health stakeholder, which could assist others?

What information would you find useful in this e-bulletin?

We want to hear your feedback and promote your good news stories. Our aim is to highlight the successes from ear health stakeholders across the State. We want to share your learnings and experiences in providing ear health services and your ideas to improve service provision across WA.

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. 

THE MIDDLE EAR - An update from Rural Health West, AHCWA and ear health stakeholder groups

AHCWA's Ear Health Program

Greetings from the Ear Health team at AHCWA.

We would like to introduce you to Tracey Green who has joined AHCWA as the Ear Health Project Officer supporting Lorraine Taui. Tracey was enticed back to work after planning to retire. She previously worked as part of the Telethon Speech and Hearing team as the Pilbara Ear Health Coordinator and brings a wealth of knowledge of ear and hearing health pathways. 

Lorraine has been busy travelling across the regions delivering ear health training and filming exciting health promotion videos soon to be released. Keep your eyes peeled!

AHCWA is a registered training organisation and provides ear health training equivalent to the requirements for a Cert IV in Ear Health. This training is available for all Aboriginal health workers and practitioners, as well as both enrolled and registered nurses. The training can be provided either face-to-face or online via the new online training package, which can accommodate for training needs for health workers living in regional and remote areas.

To contact the AHCWA Ear Health Program team, please call 08 9227 1631 or email Lorraine.taui@ahcwa.org or tracey.green@ahcwa.org

Rural Health West

Summary of 2020-2021 Outreach Healthy Ears - Better Hearing, Better Listening services

Thank you to all ear health service providers who delivered ear health services across the regions in 2020-2021. Your dedication to improving ear and hearing health outcomes for families through the Rural Health Outreach Services Programs is commendable. Rural Health West looks forward to continuing to partner with you to remove the barriers of accessing quality health services for regional and remote communities.

Registrations are now open! 

Following the June 2021 WA Ear and Hearing Telehealth Forum, health professionals are invited to join us at this one-day event to:

• Continue to explore the role of telehealth and digital health across the patient's ear health journey and lifespan.
• Identify statewide capabilities where telehealth and digital health resources and systems are working well, and where improvements can be adopted.
• Learn practical applications of digital health, including a live demonstration of an ear telehealth consult.
• Learn and identify culturally-inclusive practices for Aboriginal people and families.
• Hear from leading WA researchers supporting ear and hearing health.
• Participate in hands-on interactive upskilling and education on current guidelines and protocols.
• Engage and network with other health professionals and providers working to reduce the burden of ear disease.

For further information, please contact the Rural Health West Regional Services team outreach@ruralhealthwest.com.au or 08 6389 4500.

The 2021 Aboriginal Health Conference hosted by Rural Health West will celebrate culture, strengths and successes in Aboriginal health – a time to reflect on achievements so far and how we can address the challenges. The conference will provide a space to rejoice and reconnect with colleagues after a challenging year in terms of environmental impacts and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Aboriginal Health Conference is open to:

• Aboriginal health workers
• Medical practitioners and medical officers
• Medical registrars
• Aboriginal health practitioners
• Nurses
• Allied health workers
• Health and medical students
• Health organisations and stakeholders

More information can be found on the conference website

Exciting news – Nominations for the WA Rural Health Excellence Awards are now open!

The 2022 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards recognise and acknowledge health professionals who have dedicated their careers to caring for rural communities, and celebrate the achievements of health professionals who have enhanced the range and quality of medical care available in Western Australian rural locations.

Having access to quality healthcare is extremely important for rural communities and these awards are an opportunity to shine the spotlight on health professionals who have contributed to rural health in WA.

Categories for the 2022 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards are:

• General Practitioner (GP) of the Year
• Clinical Leadership
• Rural Researcher or Educator
• Specialist of the Year (Non-GP)
• Metropolitan-based Bush Champion
• Rural Nurse/Midwife of the Year
• Rural Allied Health Professional of the Year
• Rising Star
• Building Healthy Country Communities
• People's Choice
• Chairman's Award

Additional information on each of the award categories and the criteria is attached and can be found on the 2022 WA Rural Health Excellence Awards website.

Nominations close Monday 8 November 2021.

Should you have any enquiries, please contact the WA Rural Health Excellence Awards Coordinator at awards@ruralhealthwest.com.au or 08 6389 4500.  Thank you.

THE INNER EAR - Ear and hearing health resources

Health Workforce Scholarship

Professional development grants for the rural health workforce - Applications now open, but closing soon!

The Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, administered in Western Australia by Rural Health West.

Funding is available to medical, nursing, midwifery, dental, allied health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals who provide primary care services in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services sector, private practice or non-government organisations in rural and remote WA.

Free Test Hearing App

For children aged four years and older, Sound Scouts is a free clinically proven app that enables hearing to be checked in any quiet place, efficiently and reliably. The app tests for hearing and auditory processing issues. Sound Scouts is also suitable as a hearing check for adults.

For more information please visit the Sound Scouts website or download the app.

Disclaimer

You have received this e-bulletin as you have been identified as a key ear health stakeholder. If you wish to unsubscribe, please reply "STOP" to this email.

The Outreach programs are delivered by Rural Health West on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health.