Earbus Program
Delivering essential ear healthcare to schools and communities across WA.
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Program details
Type
Outreach and screening
Regions
11 regions across WA
Partners
Local Aboriginal health services
Frequency
Throughout the school year
Earbus is a mobile ear health service for children in regional and remote Western Australia. Our team travels to communities on a regular schedule, screening children for middle ear disease and treating what they find.
Our mobile clinics do more than screen. With GPs, audiologists and ENT specialists working within the program, children can be screened, diagnosed and treated through one continuous model of care, with visits on a regular monthly rhythm so no child slips between appointments.
Today the program operates across eleven regions, from the Kimberley all the way to the Great Southern, with six buses on the road.
What to expect during a visit
Heard that an Earbus is coming to your school? Here’s how the visit will work:
- Your child’s school will inform you when the Earbus is due to visit
- Schools collect your written consent to assess your child
- If there is a concern with your child, the clinical team will contact you and treat any issues they find
- Families can call or visit any time for follow up or concerns
Frequently asked questions
This is a free service for schools and families thanks to our generous funders, sponsors, and partners.
If your child needs further treatment or a referral to a specialist, our team will be in contact to discuss the next steps.
We welcome and encourage parents or caregivers to attend their child’s appointment, however it’s not mandatory. If you can’t make the appointment and your child requires further treatment, we will contact you directly to discuss this in detail.
No. If the Earbus is at your child’s school, no appointment is necessary, once you have completed the consent form. If your child doesn’t attend the school but is in the community, an appointment can be arranged subject to eligibility.
You’ll find our schedule of upcoming Earbus visits on the weekly timetable below. If there’s none listed near you, you can contact our team to discuss alternative arrangements.
“We are so incredibly grateful for the life-changing support the Earbus provided our son, James. They discovered his issues early, resulting in the appropriate referrals and prompt treatment. He was fitted with his first set of grommets before the age of two, significantly improving his hearing and speech. If it wasn’t for them, we would still be waiting for him to be fitted with grommets, risking him being left with lifelong hearing loss. They have changed James’ life trajectory and allowed him the best start possible.”
Mother of James
Where we work
Earbus Outreach operates across eleven regions of Western Australia, from the Kimberley all the way to the Great Southern.
