Ear and Hearing Health Follow-up Services

Overview

In May 2018, the Australian Government announced $30 million under the IAHP from 2018-19 to 2021-22 to prioritise ear and hearing health for children in the years before they start school.  $27.8 million of the $30 million is being invested in the Hearing Assessment Program – Early Ears (HAP-EE).  The HAP-EE will provide hearing assessments and recommendations for follow-up treatment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the years before school, particularly in rural and remote communities. To accommodate any additional need for follow-up services generated by the HAP-EE, $2 million from the $30 million is available from 2019-20 to 2021-22 to provide additional funds for programs that provide ear and hearing health services.  These programs include the Healthy Ears-Better Hearing, Better Listening program (Healthy Ears), the Ear Surgical Support program (ESS), and Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program (MOICDP). The purpose of Ear and Hearing Health Follow-up Services grant is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who receive hearing assessments under the HAP-EE access to the required follow-up services through Healthy Ears, ESS, and MOICDP.  The objective of the grant opportunity is to facilitate timely access to culturally appropriate, multidisciplinary ear and hearing health services provided by visiting health professionals such as ear nose and throat specialists and speech pathologists. The outcome of the grant opportunity is to improve hearing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the years before school.