Greens announce Indigenous Hearing Plan
Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for Health and
Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Issues has announced the Greens
plans to address the crisis in Indigenous ear and hearing health.
Senator Siewert says that hearing problems has been linked to poor
outcomes in education, employment and general health in Aboriginal
communities.
“We still don’t fully understand the causes and consequences of
widespread hearing impairment for Indigenous Australians, but we do know
that its roots lie in poverty and disadvantage. It is such a problem in
some communities that it has become normalised,” Senator Siewert said.
“Ear disease and hearing loss has a significant impact on education and
employment outcomes for Aboriginal people, it is essential hearing
health is addressed,” said Senator Siewert.
“It is possible to break this cycle by ensuring good hearing in schools,
the necessary technology exists- we just need to ensure it is utilised.
“The Greens plan includes increased hearing screenings and follows ups
for children from remote communities when they start school.
“Improving sound field systems in classrooms, training for teachers
about hearing loss issues and teaching strategies for classrooms is
vital to improve the learning opportunities for Aboriginal children,”
Senator Siewert said.
“The crisis in ear and hearing health can be improved through realistic
action and investment, and we will be working in Parliament to see that
this occurs,” Senator Siewert concluded.
The Greens’ Indigenous Hearing Plan includes:
– Changes to Medicare to enable specialists and practitioners to receive
public funding support for ear health services provided remotely via ear
telehealth.
– Prioritise hearing screenings and follow up for all Aboriginal
children from remote communities on commencement of school.
– Teacher induction programs for teachers posted to schools in
Aboriginal communities, including training about the effects of hearing
health on education, and effective, evidence-based teaching strategies
to manage classrooms where a majority of children are hearing impaired.
– Enable Australian Hearing, under the Australian Hearing Services Act
1991, to supply and maintain sound field systems for classrooms in all
new classrooms, and in all existing classrooms where there is a
significant population of Aboriginal children.
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