| CRCAH Project No. CD166 |
|
Administering organisation:
Menzies School of Health Research
Project Leaders:
Peter Morris
Susie Hopkins
Contact details:
Peter.morris@menzies.edu.au
or,
Susie.Hopkins@menzies.edu.au
Program Manager:
Arwen
Nikolof,
Chronic Conditions
Program
Partners Involved:
- Menzies School of Health Research
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfonet
- The Pratt Foundation
- CRC for Aboriginal Health
- Office of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health
(OATSIH)
- Variety-The Children’s Charity
|
Project summary:
The Australian Indigenous EarInfoNet Project
was developed to ensure that all research and resources on the
prevention and management of ear disease and hearing loss are
available and easily accessible. The project commenced in 2005 when
people working in the area of Indigenous ear health and hearing
reported that they frequently feel they are working in isolation,
and that they need to ‘re-invent the wheel’ regularly
when developing projects and resources for the management of ear
disease and hearing loss.
An informal national network, now known as the
EarInfoNetwork,was
established with members from various fields (including
lndigenous health workers, audiologists and audiometrists,
teachers, medical officers, nurses, and more). The
EarInfoNetwork aims to collectively address the complex
issues of ear health and hearing through improving communication
and the sharing of information and resources between
stakeholders..
Online
resources have been developed to support the network at
The Australian Indigenous EarInfoNet website– www.earinfonet.org.au.
This website provides quality up-to-date information and a yarning
place (electronic network) that enables people to share
information, knowledge and experiences. The website is a 'one
stop info-shop' for people working, studying or interested in the
area of Indigenous ear health and hearing.
A Project Manager is employed 2 days a week to
engage communities and site users, to promote the website, to
moderate yarning place messages, to develop resources and to answer
enquiries.
Summary of outcomes:
- The EarInfoNetwork and web resources were established
and continue to be developed and evaluated.
- Publications, workshops and presentations are developed and
presented on an ongoing basis.
- The project sought and secured additional funding over a 3 year
period from The Pratt Foundation.
- An evaluation survey undertaken in 2007 produced extremely
positive feedback about the site. Users reported very good
access to information and support through the
EarInfoNet.
The evaluation survey reported the following involvement in the
EarInfonet.
Number of members:
Proportion of Indigenous members
- Aboriginal - 47 (21%)
- Torres Strait Islander - 2 (0.9%)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander - 4 (1.8%)
- Non-Indigenous - 141 (63%)
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Page last updated on 24.7.2008
