Earbus Foundation of Western Australia co-founder and CEO, Dr Lara Shur, who started the organisation around her kitchen table 12 years ago, has received a prestigious award for her significant contributions to the Deaf and Hearing Impaired community.
The audiologist/speech pathologist received Deafness Council Western Australia’s Dr Harry Blackmore AM Award in recognition of her significant contributions to improving the quality of life for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired community.
For more than 25 years, Dr Shur has led and delivered services to help people with ear and hearing disorders, particularly children and families from vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
Dr John Byrne AM, a lifelong advocate for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired community and a longstanding member of Deafness Council WA, presented the award to Dr Shur on 26 February 2025 in advance of Hearing Awareness Week this week.
The annual award is named in honour of council founding member and life member, Dr Harry Blackmore AM, in recognition of his outstanding work over many years in advancing the interests of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.
The Earbus was the brainchild of ENT Professor Harvey Coates AO who launched the first Australian Earbus after seeing the concept in action in New Zealand.
Dr Shur then co-founded Earbus in 2013 with Mr Paul Higginbotham, a teacher of the deaf and former Earbus CEO, now executive director, and nurse audiometrist Ms Dee Parker. Dr Shur served a decade as director of clinical services and outcomes and, after vast experience working in paediatric and regional settings, started in the role of Earbus CEO in April 2023.
Dr Shur said she was surprised and genuinely taken aback when Mr Barry MacKinnon from Deafness Council WA told her she was the 2025 award winner.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work we have done in reaching communities with limited or no access to services,” she said. “This work focuses you on what’s important in life.
“I am privileged to do the work that I do. I am so very lucky to know that my work and life has a purpose. And I am honoured that communities trust Earbus and continue to allow us to offer a helping hand as needed.
“The award comes from people who recognise the importance of what we do. I was delighted to accept it from others who recognise that this is the way forward in terms of reconciliation and walking the pathway together.”
Earbus Foundation is a WA-based children’s charity that works to reduce the incidence of middle ear disease in Aboriginal and at-risk children in WA. It brings together experts from health, education, culture and communities.
Clinical teams on a fleet of Earbuses deliver its outreach program in more than 100 locations in remote and regional WA, treating thousands of Aboriginal and at-risk children. The aim is to eradicate the impacts of otitis media and hearing loss so young people can reach their full potential through listening and learning.
Dr Shur has also presented at conferences around the world and has active collaborations with researchers globally.
The Dr Harry Blackmore AM Award’s 2024 winner was WA’s State-wide Audiology Team whose “pioneering initiative significantly improved service accessibility by introducing advanced scope audiologists in public hospitals.” “The implementation of this service has proven to be highly successful, leading to a significant reduction in wait times for audiology and cochlear implant services from multiple years to just six weeks,” Deafness Council WA said at the time.
More reading
Earbus Foundation and Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health sigh MOU
Deterra Royalties donation helps Earbus continue fighting hearing damage
Seven WA childhood hearing initiatives to benefit from Telethon funds
