please see here for details
Photo of Hear our Heart Ear Bus
Hear our Heart Ear Bus Project is an NSW Community Service Premiers Award winning project of the Dubbo & District Parent Support Group for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Inc (also known as Dubbo District Deaf Club) The charity was established in 1997 with the aim to raise funds to improve educational facilities for the deaf and hard of hearing in Dubbo and surrounding Districts. It is run by volunteers.
In 2012, DDDC began the project Hear our Heart as there was need in our community to improve awareness and understanding of the prevalence / impact of otitis media in children and to provide support with the identification, treatment pathway and improvement of educational outcomes for all involved. Up until January 2020 we provided audiology services purely through VOLUNTEER Audiometrists, Audiometry Nurses and Audiologists from all over Australia who would come and stay to help.
Volunteers are the HEART of our existence and organisation. We do not receive Government funding.
Currently the project employs a part time teacher, part time secretary, a full time manager and a full time audiometrist. Based in Dubbo, the project visits 38 schools, and childcares settings in the public and private education sectors at Wellington, Yeoval, Gilgandra, Gulargambone, Narromine, Trangie, Warren, Nyngan, Mendooran, and Dubbo.
The project has a multi-facet approach including preventive education, targeted hearing assessment and a coordinated pathway for care for ear health/hearing support and educational outcomes. Partnerships with our local health and education professions are integral to our success.