Welcome to the Rural Health West ear health e-bulletin - October 2025

Rural Health West is the jurisdictional fundholder of the Outreach programs funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. 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 collaboratively 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.

EarTrain is coming to WA!

Delivered by TAFENSW, EarTrain is a free training program for primary healthcare professionals, to identify and manage otitis media and other hearing conditions, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Please see below for workshop dates and registration details.

Perth/Boorloo - Monday 24 - Tuesday 25 November - register here

A one-and-a-half-day workshop to finish the training commenced in August, the TAFENSW will provide a recap of Otoscopy and Tympanometry and dive deeper into hearing screening. The EarTrain team will then travel around the state, providing one-day practical skills workshops covering:

Otoscopy
Tympanometry
Hearing screening
Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs)
Referral pathways

Regional workshops:

Broome - Friday 21 November – register here
Kalgoorlie - Wednesday 26 November - register here
Geraldton - Monday 1 December - register here
Karratha - Wednesday 3 December - register here
Newman - Friday 5 December - register here

Please contact the EarTrain team via email if you have any questions - eartrain@tafensw.edu.au.

Webinar: Maternal Environmental Health Referrals for Mums and Bubs

We invite you to register for the upcoming webinar: "Maternal Environmental Health Referrals for Mums and Bubs".

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm

Join Samantha and Scott from the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance (PAHA), who will present on their Maternal Environmental Health Referral Pilot Program in the Pilbara, with a focus on Otitis Media prevention.

This innovative pilot is a collaboration between the Pilbara Aboriginal Medical Services Australian Family Partnerships Program (AFPP) teams and environmental health service agencies. Together, they're working to strengthen pathways that support thriving pregnancies and healthier early childhood outcomes across the Pilbara.

Samantha and Scott will present the program's design, the partnerships behind it, and how the pilot program is making a difference for Pilbara families and communities.

Hosted and presented by:

Samantha Barba | Regional Nurse Coordinator AFPP, (PAHA)
Scott Mackenzie | Environmental Health Project Officer,(PAHA)

Please register here.

Pilbara ENT Education Event

Lend Me Your Ears! A tale of middle ear-th and the twin tubes

On behalf of TSH and the Pilbara Health Professionals Network, visiting ENT specialist Dr Phil Sale will be providing an education session for health professionals in Karratha Thursday 20 November 5.30pm - 8.00pm.

This session will cover the following:

Anatomy and physiology
Acute otitis media
Mastoiditis and complications
Glue ear
Grommet controversies
Cholesteotoma

Registrations are essential: to read more about the event and register please click here.

Expressions of Interest in co-designing a questionnaire about the Otitis Media Guideline and OMapp – have your say!

Menzies School of Health Research are seeking expressions of interest from people across different disciplines and levels of experience to co-design a questionnaire about the Guidelines and OMapp. If you're interested in more information or providing your feedback, please contact amanda.leach@menzies.edu.au

Supporting the future Aboriginal audiology workforce: UWA Indigenous Students Master of Clinical Audiology Pathway

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 unique opportunity to help you take the next step in your career through the Indigenous Students Master of Clinical Audiology (MClinAud) Pathway.

This pathway offers a six-month fully subsidised Graduate Certificate through UWA’s School of Human Sciences, providing an alternative entry route into the Master of Clinical Audiology program. The graduate certificate is designed to build foundational knowledge and strengthen academic skills — setting you up for success in the MClinAud course and a rewarding career in audiology.

Indigenous students
Existing allied health work experience
Six month certificate running in both semesters
Must achieve an average WAM of 60% to enrol in the MClinAud program
Fully subsidised

For more information see here

WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum recordings

Click on the links below to watch some of the presentations that took place at previous WA Ear and Hearing Health Forums

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 - 2025 Forums - graphic minutes available; with recordings found here

Events and webinars

Hearing Australia - Hearing Screening Tips and Tricks Webinar

Wednesday 19 November 2025, 9:45am AEST, online

This webinar is designed for healthcare workers who want to improve their hearing screening skills for children aged from three years through to adult ear health care.

What you'll learn:

Referral guidelines
Environmental preparation
Equipment setup
Response reliability

Please register here

Audiology Australia WA Conference

The Audiology Australia WA Conference will be held live in-person at the Rendezvous Hotel Scarborough on Friday 28 November 2025.

Registrations are open now until Sunday 23 November 5pm.

Clinical Education: Ear and Hearing Training Day

Monday 1 December 2025 - UWA Dental School Lecture Theatre

The Child and Adolescent Health Service is providing an Ear and Hearing Training Day for clinical health professionals to increase knowledge on neonatal and paediatric ear health and hearing.

Please contact the Child and Adolescent Health Services on 6456 0515 or via e mail for more information or to register.

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 ability 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, ways to care for after their ears and prevent the spread of illness in their community.

Simon Says animations

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

AHCWA's Your Journey in Ear Health videos

Diagnostic Procedures, please click here.
Lesley Nelson CEO, please click here.
Ear Care, please click here.
Blow, Breathe and Cough, please click here.
Ear Treatments, please click here.
Real Client Story, please click here.

WA 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. 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 has expired. The WA Child Ear Health Strategy Steering Committee is currently reviewing the Strategy to ensure WA children, families and their communities are best supported in improving ear and hearing health outcomes.

2020 Otitis Media Guidelines - Menzies School of Health Research

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.

ASOHNS Patient Information Sheets

The Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery have developed patient information sheets. To download these resources, please click on the links below

Grommets Myringoplasty Tonsils

Care for Kids Ears

Care for Kids Ears – This website aims to raise awareness of ear disease and hearing loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The website provides free access to resources for parents and carers, teachers, early childhood groups, and health professionals.

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

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, Disability and Ageing.