On Tuesday 5 March, to mark World Hearing Day and Hearing Awareness Week, H:EAR | Hearing Education Application Research, Macquarie University and the Australian Hearing Hub hosted an Indigenous Hearing Health symposium. The event opened with the 2019 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration by Professor Andrew Smith (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), who gave a global perspective on hearing loss as a public health issue, and what we might learn and apply to improve the hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Dr Liesa Clague and Dr John Kelly (Macquarie University), Samantha Harkus (Australian Hearing) and Professor Amanda Leach (Menzies School of Health Research), presented their perspectives and research on current issues, and how we might reach more positive outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hearing health.
As part of the symposium, Professor Catherine McMahon, Director of H:EAR chaired 2 meetings with the presenters, and invited guests from the Department of Health, NACCHO and Dr Kelvin Kong (Conjoint Associate Professor (UNSW); Conjoint Associate Professor (UoN); Paediatric & Adult Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgeon, Cochlear Implant Surgeon, John Hunter Hospital, John Hunter Children’s Hospital; Co-Chair, Hearing for Learning Initiative) to discuss challenges in ear and hearing health of Indigenous Australians, and what next steps might be taken.
