Hearing check clinics are now available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids across Northern Sydney aged 0-6 who are not yet attending primary school.

A partnership between NSLHD and Hearing Australia has led to two clinics opening at both Bungee Bidgel (Hornsby Ku-Ring-gai Hospital) and the Royal North Shore Community Health Centre every Monday.

Hearing Australia’s audiologists provide the HAPEE Clinics across Australia, as part of a national strategy and program that is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, aiming to reduce preventable ear disease and hearing loss among First Nations children.

NSLHD’s Child and Family Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team worked with Hearing Australia to establish the clinics and has already made a significant difference in hearing loss detection, prevention and general awareness.

NSLHD Child, Youth and Family Health Service Clinical Director and Paediatrician Anne Piper said the clinics play a vital role helping identify cases where symptoms aren’t always obvious.

"It is so important that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have their ears and hearing checked by an audiologist every six months until they are 18 months old, and then once every year until they start school.”

NSLHD Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service Director Peter Shine said the connection between hearing, community, family and culture is paramount to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

“Language is integral to every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bub’s connection to community, family, and culture. It’s important, so tots can listen to our elders’ stories and learn our songs,” he said.