HEAR Centre, Macquarie University

12/12/2021

As part of our Aboriginal Children's Hearing Health project we've funded 18 Aboriginal Scholarship Students to do their Diploma of Audiometry. We welcomed them to campus last month to take part in their first face-to-face teaching blocks. Supported by Walanga Muru while on campus, and partnering with TAFE NSW, the students took part in play audiometry at Mia Mia childcare centre, were taught how to recognise the signs and symptoms of otitis media, and learned how to promote cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

12/12/2021

A special edition of the journal Public Health Research & Practice has been published, calling for a national action plan on hearing loss. HEAR Centre Director Prof Catherine McMahon, and Prof Bamini Gopinath (HEAR Centre Investigator) were co-editors, together with Dr Barr of SoundFair.

https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/december-2021-volume-31-issue-5/

04/08/2021

Worimi! ('Hello' in the Dharug language). Today is National Aboriginal and Torees Strait Islander Children's Day. The theme is . HEAR Centre acknowledges the important role a strong connection to Country and culture has in the wellbeing and health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Our theme is: Proud in culture, strong in spirit – Help our kids celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day on 4 August. aborigi...

09/06/2021

Director of HEAR, Prof Catherine McMahon, attended the National Press Club yesterday to hear Dr Kelvin Kong speak on ‘Hearing Versus Listening’. Dr Kong is a Worimi man, first Aboriginal ENT surgeon in Australia, and Honorary Professor at Macquarie University. He has worked tirelessly to improve hearing health outcomes for Aboriginal kids, and has been awarded the Australian Society for Medical Research Medal for 2021.

HEAR Centre is privileged to have Dr Kong as an Associate Investigator on our research project to co-produce new health care pathways for Aboriginal kids with Otitis Media (middle ear disease).

Picture shows, L-R: Sam Harkus (Hearing Australia), Prof Catherine McMahon (HEAR Centre), Dr Kelvin Kong, Kai Nash (Macquarie University), Jess Styles (Director of Programs, NACCHO), Brooke McIntosh (Audiologist at Winnuga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service).

05/03/2021

03/03/2021

Please watch the Australian launch of the World Health Organisation's World Report on Hearing! We partnered with the Australian Hearing Hub to organise the event, and want to thank all of the participants (listed below), including cricketers Brett Lee and Justin Langer. Our Centre Director, Professor Catherine McMahon, had significant input into the report, so we are very excited to share this!


Launch participants:
- David Brady, Chair of Deafness Forum and CEO of Hear For You
- The Hon. Trent Zimmerman, MP, Chair Standing Committee on Health and Aged Care
- The Hon. John Howard OM AC
- The Hon. Mark Coulton, MP, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government
- Dr Kelvin Kong, ENT surgeon and Associate Professor at University of Newcastle
Professor Tom Calma AO
- Justin Langer, Ambassador for Ear Science Institute Australia and Australian cricket coach
- Brett Lee, WHO World Hearing Forum Champion and world-renowned cricketer
- Sue Walters, President of CICADA Australia
- The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP – Member for Kingsford Smith
- The Hon. Dr Fiona Martin, MP, Chair Select Committee on Mental Health and Co-Chair Parliamentary Friends of Hearing Health

You can access a transcript of this event here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dmTuUZbZUW8isACE1zAK9NHYOp6VAz7K/view?usp=sharing

03/03/2021

We're lucky to have David Brady (Chairperson of Deafness Forum of Australia and CEO of Hear For You) on our Advisory Board!

03/03/2021

Today we celebrate World Hearing Day.
Middle ear infections are a significant problem in Australia, especially for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children. Left untreated, ear infections can lead to hearing loss which may limit a child's capacity to develop socially and emotionally.
Head to your local Apunipima centre for a health hearing check or to have a yarn today.

02/03/2021

Today is World Hearing Day, and we are proud to have helped develop this Australian video to highlight why ‘hearing care for all’ (the theme for this year’s World Hearing Day) is so important!

Good hearing and communication are important at all stages of life. If you, or someone you know, is suffering from hearing loss it’s so important to be checked out by a health care provider.

World Hearing Day

02/03/2021

Today is World Hearing Day. Our Director, Professor Catherine McMahon is calling for a change in how people with hearing loss are able to access and connect with hearing care.

From the article: “Unaddressed hearing loss costs Australia $20 billion annually – most in lost productivity and healthcare costs.... More needs to be done to ensure early detection and to connect those with hearing problems to ear and hearing care – particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and older adults. We’ve got a lot more to do”.

Macquarie researchers say strong links between hearing loss and ageing poorly highlight an urgency for better health screening.