NACCHO’s Ear & Hearing Health Project for Aboriginal Health Workers (AHW)

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NACCHO will be conducting a Professional Development Ear and Hearing Health Equipment training at Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Education Program Aboriginal Corporation (QATSIHWEPAC) on 22nd February 2012.

Registrations are now open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers who work in ear and hearing health programs, including those AHW’s working in ACCHS,AMS and Community Health Services.

Please find Registration and Travel Forms Attached. Please read the forms carefully for information about eligibility and the funded component. Registrations close on Wednesday 3rd February.

If you have any enquires please contact Teletha Elemes- Williams or Amanda Allan on 02 6248 0644. Email address Teletha@naccho.org.au/ Amanda@naccho.org.au

Registration and Travel Form

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Program Background

The Improving Eye and Ear Health Services for Indigenous Australians for Better Education and Employment Outcomes measure is providing $58.3 million over four years from 1 July 2009.  The measure aims to improve the early detection and treatment of eye and ear health conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, leading to improved education and employment outcomes.  Key components of the measure that relate to ear and hearing health include:

1. Training of health workers for ear and hearing screening;
2. Maintenance and purchase of medical equipment for hearing screening management;
3. Additional ENT services, ear surgical procedures, and support to help embed health management within primary health care; and
4. Ear and hearing health promotion activities.

NACCHO’s project

The Department of Health & Ageing approached NACCHO to discuss strategies on expanding the AHW workforce.  Knowing that ear health training had been ad hoc for about six years combined with a lack of confidence by AHWs in the use of ear health equipment, NACCHO designed four phases of implementation of training for ear and hearing AHWs. The first twelve months from July 2011 to June 2012, NACCHO has worked with key stakeholders to initiate and coordinate training for all ear and hearing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers.   The achievements to date include:

• The establishment of a Course Advisory Group (CAG) to develop the accredited national ear health skill set
• National Symposium in October 2010 to share knowledge and experience of ear health primary health care services
• 68 AHWs received one on one training on the use of otoscopes, tympanometers and video-otoscopes to align with the national roll out of equipment by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH)
• An Ear Health Training Manual has been developed
• A second Professional Development Training was held in March 2011 in which another 76 AHWs received one on one training on the equipment.  A mini launch was opened by NACCHO’s Chairperson, Justin Mohamed and Minister Peter Garret
• 14 ATSIHRTONN members receive the IBERA Education Tool
• An Ear Health Resource Kit has been delivered to ACCHS and AMS that participated in both October and March events
• The  accredited national ear health skill set was developed and piloted in urban, regional and remote settings by three members of the ATSIHRTONN (Sydney, Brisbane and Kalgoorlie)
• The evaluation of piloting the ear health skill set is set to be finalised in September 2011.
  

Papers presented at the 2010 Ear & Hearing National Symposium are available here

Phase 3 – Implementation of the National Skill Set

A National Summit was held on 31st August as part of the consultation phase to agree on the training model for the national roll out of the National Skill Set over the next two years.   A model has been agreed upon and NACCHO will liaise with interested members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Regional Training Organisation Network (ATSIHRTONN) to deliver the training over the next two years.    The Implementation Plan budgets for six (6) ATSIHRTONN members in Year One up to June 2012; and nine (9) members in Year 2 up to June 2013.  Participating ATSIHRTONN members will also receive a set of ear and hearing equipment to support the delivery of the National Skill Set.

National Summit Discussion Paper

NACCHO is currently exploring a number of capacity strengthening approaches to support professional development, mentoring and support to AHWs and to trainers participating in the accredited training.  Professional development training to continue regular hands on equipment training are also included in the plan at a jurisdictional level.  This will include audiometer training which will align with the roll out of audiometers by OATSIH.

While the objective is to have a sustainable and educated competent workforce of AHWs in ear health screening at the primary health care level, the ultimate aim is to reduce the prevalence of ear disease amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, through early detection and prevention in babies and young people.