Muffled sounds and painful ear infections are a thing of the past for 100 Aboriginal children who have received free life-changing grommet surgery through Western Australia’s Djaalinj Waakinj research program.
The program, which launched in 2018, recently celebrated the milestone 100th surgery performed by paediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon Associate Professor George Sim at St John of God Murdoch Hospital.
The procedures were made possible through a partnership between the hospital, A/Prof Sim, the Wesfarmers Centre of Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, based at The Kids Research Institute Australia, and Cockburn Integrated Health.
Djaalinj Waakinj, which means listening and talking in Noongar language, connects ear health researchers with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Perth’s south metropolitan area. The research program conducted by the Wesfarmers Centre is based at The Kids Research Institute Australia.
Researchers visit babies from two months of age to check for early signs of otitis media (OM) and hearing loss.
They said about 50% of Aboriginal children suffer debilitating OM by six to eight months but the program had been life changing for more than 430 families who accessed free, fast-tracked urgent specialist treatment and grommet surgery.
Associate Professor Val Swift, co-director for the Djaalinj Waakinj centre, and Aboriginal cultural guidance advisor at the Wesfarmers Centre, said the ability to avoid a long waitlist for treatment had an immeasurable impact on these children.
“OM can cause permanent hearing loss if not caught and treated early, but unfortunately, many children are living with untreated ear disease over a long period of time, which causes long-term issues with language, behavioural and educational development,” A/Prof Swift said on the Kids Research Institute Australia website on 30 July 2025.
Seeking help for recurrent infections and understanding the treatment and surgery process could be very overwhelming, so families participating in the Djaalinj Waakinj program were grateful to partners involved for walking alongside them throughout this journey, she said.
A/Prof Sim consulted with more than 350 children through the program over the past seven years
Staff from the hospital helped to fund the no-cost surgeries and support Djaalinj Waakinj families by raising more than $140,000 through cake stalls, book sales, raffles and more. Combined with contributions from St John of God Health Care, this took the total raised to just under $220,000.
Mr Ben Irish, St John of God Murdoch Hospital CEO, said “countless possibilities have now been unlocked for these kids, including the opportunity to start school with the ability to hear and learn.”
“We are so proud and humbled to have played our part in this program and would like to recognise the efforts of St John of God Murdoch Hospital staff and A/Prof George Sim who have generously given their money, time and expertise to make these surgeries possible for 100 children and counting,” Irish said on the Kids Research Institute Australia website on 30 July 2025.
Austal Giving supports the Djaalinj Waakinj centre. Austal is an Australian shipbuilder and global defence contractor which develops defence and commercial vessel platforms. Austal Giving is a platform for its staff to support help communities and charities.
