Public hearing health workshop with Professor Andrew Smith

The Centre for Implementation of Hearing Research & Australian Hearing Hub host public hearing health workshop with Professor Andrew Smith

(L-R: Prof Catherine McMahon, Prof Simon Handley, Prof Andrew Smith, Prof David McAlpine, Peter McCarthy)

To mark World Hearing Day on 3 March 2018, the Centre for Implementation of Hearing Research (CIHR) and Australian Hearing Hub hosted key Australian stakeholders in hearing healthcare for a 4-day workshop led by Professor Andrew Smith.

Professor Andrew Smith is a world-renowned public health expert at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability (ICED), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and was responsible for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Impairment at the World Health Organisation from 1996 to 2008.

The workshop brought together hearing health professionals, researchers, advocates, educators and public health officials from around Australia. It included presentations from experts in indigenous hearing health, screening, the WHO global programme, health economics and implementation. It familiarised participants with the principles of global public health approaches to ear and hearing care, raised awareness and advocacy for hearing loss, assessed local and global need, gaps within health programmes and actions required for successful implementation.

Keynote speakers included:

Professor Andrew Smith - Co-coordinator for Training in Public Health in Hearing Impairment, International Centre for Evidence in Disability (ICED), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Dr Shelly Chadha - Technical Officer, Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss, World Health Organisation

Professor Sakkie Pretorius - Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Macquarie University.

Professor Catherine McMahon - Head of Audiology & Director of Centre for Implementation of Hearing Research (CIHR), Macquarie University

Samantha Harkus - Principal Audiologist, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Services, Australian Hearing

Professor Frances Rapport – Professor of Implementation Science, Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Macquarie University

Dr Henry Cutler – Director, Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University

Dr John Newall -Master of Clinical Audiology Program Co-ordinator, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University

The CIHR will be holding further events in 2018 & 2019, keep an eye on our website for more details coming soon.