Ms Josephine Reynolds1, Ms Nicolette Varvounis1
1Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, Australia
Biography:
Josephine Reynolds is the Senior Audiologist for the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, which provides outpatient audiology services to both adult and paediatric populations. She has been practicing as an Audiologist since 2013, with professional experience in both public and private settings. Her passion for working with the paediatric population stems from her previous career in special education teaching.
Abstract:
Aboriginal children face significant challenges in accessing healthcare, particularly for ear health, due to high rates of ear infections and hearing loss. Aboriginal Health Practitioners screen children for hearing issues in public schools in the northern Adelaide suburbs, referring those who fail to Audiology for assessment. Historically, attendance rates for Aboriginal children referred to Audiology have been poor, with peak Did Not Attend (DNA) rate of 46% in April 2023. This raised concerns about health inequities and delayed treatment for ear conditions.
To address this issue, Audiologists and Aboriginal Health Practitioners worked collaboratively to identify and tackle cultural, logistical, and systemic barriers to attendance. Key factors contributing to the high DNA rate included transportation difficulties, lack of culturally sensitive care, long waiting lists, and misunderstandings about appointment importance.
In early 2024, comprehensive strategies were implemented to promote clinic attendance and reduce the DNA rate. These strategies were tailored to meet the specific needs of the Aboriginal community based on the insights gained. Following implementation, there was a significant improvement in attendance, with the DNA rate reduced to 4% in October 2024.
This significant reduction highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity, awareness, and patient-centred care in improving healthcare access and outcomes for Aboriginal children.
This initiative demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted, culturally appropriate interventions in addressing health disparities and improving service utilisation among Aboriginal communities.