The Earbus Foundation of Western Australia has set out to engage the community and provide support for indigenous school students.
Six South West schools have achieved consent rates of 100 per cent. The indigenous children attending those schools are now able to receive Earbus services.
The schools – Glen Huon Primary School, Cooinda PS, Parkfield PS, College Row PS, South Bunbury Education Support Centre, and Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School – were formally acknowledged on Monday, November 19.
Each school received a certificate of appreciation from Earbus chief executive officer Paul Higginbotham.
Mr Higginbotham praised the schools for assisting the organisation.
“This is a thank you to the schools who welcomed us, got the program out there to parents, and got all of the kids signed up,” he said.
“These five schools have signed up every aboriginal student in attendance, which is phenomenal.
“We can’t treat the kids unless we get consent from the parents.
“There’s been a lot of support and enthusiasm, which has been fantastic.”
Whilst in the South West, Earbus service personnel will be operating out of the Glen Iris old school community hub, near South Western Highway.
Mr Higginbotham said hearing services were vital for indigenous people.
“Aboriginal children have some of the worst hearing in the world,” he said.
“It’s a persistent, deeply entrenched problem for aboriginal populations in both urban and regional areas.
“On average, during the first 60 months of an aboriginal child’s life, they will have ear disease for 32 months.
“In those first five years of life, kids are learning all the stuff they need.
“If you want to see aboriginal children succeed in school, you have to know they can properly hear what is going on in a classroom.”
Assisted by the South West Aboriginal Medical Service, the Earbus first visited Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School in late 2016.
Earlier this year, Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School students Kassie Allan and Deakin Williams had their designs placed onto the bus.
The foundation currently assists 14 South West schools, 14 in the Goldfields, and 11 in the Pilbara.
Earbus also collects around $130,000 each year to run its operations.
The organisation is primarily funded by the Ian Potter Foundation, the Stan Perron Charitable Trust, and the McCusker Charitable Foundation.
Earbus has previously received donations from businesses as well as funding through newborn hearing screening contracts.
Head to the website, earbus.org.au, for more information.
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