A trial underway in the Northern Territory is training members of local communities to be ear health facilitators so they can work in their own regions reducing ear disease and hearing loss among First Nations children.
The Menzies School of Health Research hearing for learning initiative is an innovative community-based service enhancement project led by the medical research institute’s Ear Health Research Program.
It aims to reduce prevalence of otitis media and hearing loss among First Nations children, enhancing early language development, school readiness, school attendance and performance.
The initiative, a randomised controlled trial, is developing, implementing and evaluating a model of enhanced ear health care and hearing support. The support is delivered by newly funded positions for local community members (up to 40 ear health facilitators) across 20 communities.
The institute’s newly released 2023 annual report stated that in 2023, 25 ear health facilitator trainees completed their training. They were from Galiwin’ku, Ampilatwatja, Kalkarindji/Daguragu, Gunbalanya, Pirlangimpi and Yirrkala. Additionally, five new facilitators were employed across six remote communities.
The initiative has now completed all training phases of the project in participating communities and provides opportunities for community members to become employed as an ear health facilitator in their community.
Over six weeks, the initiative delivers on-country training to local community members who complete two accredited units of Certificate II in Aboriginal Primary Health Care and training in ear and hearing testing equipment.
Once trained, they can apply for the ear health facilitator position at the local clinic to provide culturally appropriate, sustainable ear and hearing services for children up to 16 years of age.
In each community, the initiative is guided by a community reference group that provides cultural advice, helps to promote the opportunity, selects trainees and makes recommendations as to the most appropriate person to have the role and responsibility of facilitator.
Graduation ceremonies celebrate achievements and show the community the trainees’ confidence, new knowledge and skills.
Menzies School of Health Research is a medical research institute dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a major partner of Charles Darwin University and constitutes a school within the university’s Institute of Advanced Studies.
