EAR HEALTH BOOST DURING NAIDOC WEEK

Alcoa Australia President, Matt Reed with Alcoa Earbus Program Coordinator, Chontae Hayden

In celebrating NAIDOC week, Alcoa announced its global charity, the Alcoa Foundation, will provide Earbus Foundation of WA with three year's of funding to continue to deliver our program across the communities near where it operates in the Kwinana, Peel and Upper South West regions.

This commitment builds on funding Alcoa has already provided in support of our one-stop ear health service in this part of WA since 2018. To date, Alcoa funding has enabled Earbus to provide ear assessments for 1,350 children across 33 schools, daycares and early learning centres. This has included 3,046 ear screens, 1,647 hearing tests and 844 health checks.

Earbus CEO and Co-founder, Dr Lara Shur, said the program was crucial for improving the lives of some of the most at-risk children in WA. 

“This renewed partnership with Alcoa will allow us to continue this vital program with our team that includes an ear health screener, audiologist and nurse practitioner, enabling us to provide a quality screening, treatment and surveillance program,” Dr Shur said.

Alcoa Australia President. Matt Reed, said the company was keen to help build on that success as there is nothing more important than a child’s health or education.

“Middle ear disease seriously impacts early childhood development and we are proud to be helping to turn this around so these children can learn and achieve their full potential,” Mr Reed said.