Ears2Learn
Empowering healthcare providers, educators, and families to identify and treat middle ear disease in young children.
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Program details
Type
Early-childhood screening and training
Regions
Perth Metro
Partners
Goodstart Early Learning
Ears2Learn is a free ear screening program for children aged seven months to five years, delivered through a partnership between Ear Foundation Australia and Goodstart Early Learning, with generous support from Alcoa.
Led by Ear Foundation’s audiologists and clinical education team, the five-day training course equips Goodstart educators to operate screening equipment, recognise hearing issues, manage referrals, and communicate effectively with families and health professionals. Ear Foundation’s team oversees clinical governance for every child screened, ensuring a high standard of care throughout.
By uniting healthcare providers, educators and families on a shared mission, the program ensures any hearing concerns are identified and addressed long before children start school. This early detection is critical — because children who can’t hear, can’t learn. By empowering educators to spot these early signs and connect families with timely support, the Ears2Learn program ensures more children step into school ready to learn, participate, and thrive.
Since its inception in August 2019, the program has conducted thousands of hearing screenings, with more than a third of these requiring referrals to health professionals including GPs, ENTs, audiologists and speech pathologists.
Frequently asked questions
The program operates through Goodstart Early Learning Centres in the Perth metro, South West and Mid West regions of Western Australia.
If your child currently attends a Goodstart Early Learning Centre, they will automatically be eligible for a free screening. Parents are informed by the centre and are required to provide written consent.
Absolutely — Ear Foundation’s highly trained clinicians oversee every step of the process. Plus, you won’t pay anything for the checkup.
“Ears2Learn is a wonderful and promising alternative model to screen and, through timely referrals, promptly treat young children at risk of speech and language delay and reduce waiting times that are far too long both in the public and private sector.”
Professor Harvey Coates AO
Clinical Patron, Ear Foundation Australia
Where we work
Ears2Learn operates through Goodstart Early Learning Centres in the Perth Metro, South West and Goldfields regions.
