Children's Hearing Screening Program

Mr BELL (Mount Gambier) (15:21): I rise to speak about an issue that often goes unnoticed, yet has a profound impact on the development, wellbeing and future of our youngest South Australians: undiagnosed hearing loss in children. In Mount Gambier, and across the Limestone Coast, we are fortunate to have strong community organisations like the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier, which is spearheading a new initiative to tackle this challenge head on. Their proposal is to introduce a region-wide hearing screening program using Sound Scouts—a clinically validated, game-based app developed in partnership with National Acoustic Laboratories, the research arm of Hearing Australia.

The brilliance of this program lies in its simplicity and accessibility. Children engage with it like they would any other tablet game but, in doing so, they are undergoing a professional hearing test. It is a modern, engaging and accurate tool designed to pick up hearing issues that might otherwise go undetected in the early years of schooling. The Rotary Club has already committed to funding the required hardware and providing trained volunteers to deliver the testing. This includes completing Working with Children Checks and mandatory online safety training. But what they are seeking is state government support to cover the licensing cost of the Sound Scouts app—approximately $8,550 per year to test every reception student across public and private schools in our region.

It is estimated that around 10 per cent of school-aged children suffer from some level of hearing loss. That is, one in every 10 students potentially start school with a disadvantage: struggling to hear instructions, participate in class discussions or even socialise confidently with their peers. We know the impact that even mild hearing impairment can have on literacy, speech development and behaviour outcomes. We also know that early intervention is the key. Yet, unlike vision screening, which is routinely offered by Lions clubs across the country, hearing checks are not universally available, particularly in regional and rural areas. This program, led by community volunteers, presents an opportunity to close that gap and I would argue that it is precisely the kind of initiative this government should be supporting: low cost, high impact and community led.

In Queensland, the state government has recognised the value of the Sound Scouts model and now funds the program in schools. I believe South Australia should be doing the same, starting with a trial in Mount Gambier and the District Council of Grant. This is not a request for millions of dollars; it is a request for a modest investment in preventative health—one that could make a significant difference in the lives of hundreds of children each year.

It is also a demonstration of how government and community can work together to achieve real outcomes for our kids and our communities. I urge the Minister for Health, whom I have also written to, to give serious consideration to this proposal. Let us not allow undiagnosed hearing issues become a barrier to learning for children in our region. Let us give every child the best possible start by ensuring they can hear, engage and thrive in their education.