The Australasian College of Audiometry (AuCA) has launched a new Occupational Audiometry Short Course to upskill audiometrists and students in workplace hearing tests.
Dr Rebecca Newton from Safe Work Australia said exposure to hazardous noise was a significant health and safety hazard in Australian workplaces.
“Since 2015, Australian workers have lodged close to 30,000 workers’ compensation claims for hearing loss,” she said in March 2023. “The majority of these claims were the result of long-term exposure to hazardous noise.”
Mr Chedy Kalach, AuCA director, said that further to offering the Certificate IV and Diploma of Audiometry, AuCA was expanding its offerings with the intensive course in occupational audiometry.
“The Occupational Audiometry two-day course, in combination with an online learning module, will provide participants with the skills and knowledge required in accordance with the Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 Occupational noise management – Auditory assessment standards,” he said.
“This intensive course is designed to give participants not only competence but also the confidence to conduct otoscopy, perform workplace hearing tests and analyse and present test results accurately and confidently.”
Kalach said the blended delivery mode utilising both on-line learning and in-person workshops allowed instructors to deliver learning modules, quizzes, practical instruction and assessments that were in depth and engaging while allowing students to work through course material at their own pace then consolidate with an intensive hands-on workshop.
“The course materials and learning journey have been carefully designed to provide participants with the best opportunity to gain a practical understanding supported by a comprehensive knowledge base to achieve competency in occupational audiometry,” he added.
“Our AuCA trainers, who are audiologists, facilitate the course and are available to students via the discussion page as well as over the phone for support when needed.”
Course highlights include:
- The online component: A pre-workshop learning module addressing the 16 areas of the AS/NZS 1269.4:2014 Occupational noise management – Auditory assessment standards.
- Two-day face-to-face workshop: Gain practical, hands-on experience under the guidance of qualified audiologists. Practise audiometric testing techniques, troubleshooting, and data interpretation.
- Competency certificate: A certificate of competency is awarded to students after passing a final graded assessment.
More information can be found on the AuCA website at http://www.auca.edu.au/ or by contacting Ms Heather Joseph, AuCA general manager, on 0425 228 170 or by emailing heather@auca.edu.au
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