Katherine recruits wanted to help with chronic ear health problems

Menzies School of Health Research celebrated the first graduates of its Hearing for Learning Initiative who have gained Certificate II training in Aboriginal Primary Health Care, and enhanced skills in detecting ear and hearing problems this month.

The community-based solution to the life-long problem of hearing loss among almost all Aboriginal children is also being rolled out in Katherine later this year.

Graduates will have the opportunity to transition to employment in clinics as ear health facilitators, working with health professionals, families and the schools to help kids who need treatment for their ears and who might not be hearing well.

The community-based training initiative focuses on prevention through early detection of ear issues in young children by a locally trained workforce.

Seven trainees have already completed the six week course at Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi Islands.

Graduate Aileen Tiparui said she was inspired to do the training in order to help the young people in her community to take care of their hearing.

"I wanted to learn more about hearing and to get more skills and to know more about hearing problems for our kids, especially the young ones," Ms Tiparui said.

"I learned new skills and how to look after ears, such as how to use an otoscope to look into ears."

Up to nine in every 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children under the age of three in the Territory, suffer from some type of otitis media, either "glue ear", "bulging ear drums" or "runny ears" in one or both ears.

Menzies' Professor Amanda Leach, joint chair of the Initiative, said that the program aimed to increase early detection of otitis media, by training local community members to become ear experts that support on the ground health and education services.

"This will decrease the need for fly-in fly-out specialists, reduce the treatment waiting period and create employment opportunities for up to 40 community-based workers in the NT," Prof Leach said.

"It is important, now more than ever given the COVID-19 pandemic, to have local health practitioners who can provide essential services to their community. These new graduates will be able to work with their community to help identify ear health concerns and treatments early, to reduce the risk of long-term ear disease and associated hearing loss."

It is funded by lead philanthropic supporter The Balnaves Foundation, and the Australian and NT governments.

The initiative is currently recruiting participants in Katherine with training expected to begin in October.

For more information email hearingforlearning@menzies.edu.au.

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