Improving Aboriginal Children's Ear Health

Auditor General's overview

This report presents the findings from my performance audit of whether key entities are effectively reducing the burden of ear disease for Aboriginal children in Western Australia.

Undiagnosed or untreated hearing problems can create challenges that last for life. They can delay speech development, making it harder to learn. Hearing loss and educational deficits can make work and social interaction more difficult, and cause problems in interactions with government services and authorities… 

 

 

Video summary

Duration 02:00

Report content

Executive Summary
The objective of this audit was to assess whether state government entities are effectively reducing the burden of ear disease for Aboriginal children. Read more...
Recommendations
The Department of Health, WA Country Health Service and Child and Adolescent Health Service should work together to...
Response from entities
The WA Country Health Service has a strong commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people...
Audit focus and scope
This was a broad scope performance audit, conducted under Section 18 of the Auditor General Act 2006...
Audit finding - WA Health’s data does not give a clear picture of Aboriginal children’s ear health
Although there is no conclusive and comprehensive data, the weight of research shows that OM is a significant issue for Aboriginal children. Read more...
Audit finding - Programs to identify OM don’t reach most Aboriginal children early enough
WA Health currently offer 5 child health checks from birth until the school entry check. Read more...
Audit finding - Services have not been co-designed, making them hard for Aboriginal families to use and limiting their effectiveness
The referral-based system of care can be difficult for Aboriginal families to navigate in many ways. Read more...
References