Prestigious win for improving hearing outcomes for Aboriginal children
The Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) ear nose and throat (ENT) team recently received the Best Practice in Health and Wellbeing award in the highly regarded Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) awards.
They were presented the prestigious award alongside Cockburn Integrated Health (CIH), Telethon Kids Institute (TKI), Hearing Australia and Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, and St John of God Murdoch Hospital ENT, for their collaboration to improve hearing outcomes for Aboriginal children.
Aboriginal children have the highest rates of ear disease and associated hearing loss in the world, which significantly impacts on their development, schooling and longer-term employment opportunities.
In response, a monthly ENT specialist clinic was established by CIH in partnership with TKI. Through the clinic, Aboriginal children see an ENT specialist and receive timely surgical intervention, if necessary.
RGH Medical Co-Director Surgery and Specialist Care, Andrew Thompson, said he was really proud to help provide specialist support for this incredible initiative.
“ENT Surgeon, Dr Francis Lannigan, approached me back in 2021 to see if RGH could facilitate a monthly surgical list for Aboriginal children as part of CIH’s ENT specialist clinic,” Andrew said.
“Obviously Rockingham Peel Group (RPG) was very keen to get on board with this great collaboration and help provide more equitable access to healthcare for our whole community.
“We are really proud at RPG to have fostered a reputation for providing an inclusive and culturally safe environment, which contributes to a higher engagement in the health system.”
RGH ENT Surgeon, Dr Francis Lannigan, explained impaired hearing and hearing loss are especially prevalent among Aboriginal children and, much of the time, can be treated with a straightforward day procedure.
“Grommet insertion is a relatively simple procedure, but if children go without this treatment it can have adverse impacts on their whole life,” Dr Lannigan.
“By partnering with the clinic, we are able to provide timely ENT surgery for Aboriginal children and hopefully prevent the long-term impacts on their educational outcomes.
“It is really rewarding to be part of this initiative and while none of us go into healthcare for the awards, it is nice to have been recognised by IPAA.”
RPG Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers, Karen Waigana and Jayeden Quartermaine, said early intervention for ear health is critical for Aboriginal children.
“When children can’t hear well, it can be extremely detrimental to their educational outcomes, and then their employment opportunities later in life,” they said.
“For our mob to be getting ENT surgery early and before they begin school, it means they’re not beginning their education on the backfoot like they would be otherwise.”
