Earbus Program

Earbus Foundation is a WA-based Children's charity that works to reduce the incidence of middle ear disease in Aboriginal and at-risk children in our state. The Foundation brings together experts from Education, Health, Culture and Communities

Earbus Foundation provides a comprehensive ear health service and visits the Goldfields at regular times during the year. In the Goldfields they partner with Bega Garnbirringu and visit the East Kalgoorlie Primary School using the Bega Mobile Clinic.  Earbus visit the school with a Nurse Practitioner, Audiologist and ENT Specialist.

Earbus mobile ear health clinics offer full primary health care to Aboriginal children in schools, day-cares, kindergartens and playgroups. As well as providing comprehensive ear screening, the Earbus employs GPs, audiologists and ENTs so referral is quick and treatment is seamless.

By working in close partnership with schools, day-cares and kindergartens the Earbus program has developed a tight model of continuous care. GPs write short course antibiotics which are delivered by the Earbus team then supervised by schools so every child takes the full course when prescribed. Children needing ear washes are tracked and managed in partnership so on the next Earbus visit (usually monthly) children are ready for further treatment.

On average Aboriginal children suffer from middle ear disease for 32 months of the first five years of life, compared to three months for non-Indigenous children. While vaccination programs have been tried and prevention/awareness programs are in place in some remote communities 100% of Aboriginal children are affected.