For mum of two, Acacia Platt, her children's health is front of mind.
So, when three-year-old Neeve started struggling with her speech, Acacia acted quickly, taking her to Tugun Satellite Health Centre before being referred to a new community hearing service.
“Hearing loss does run in my family, so it was definitely a concern,” Acacia said.
The Community Hearing Screening Clinics provide children between nine months to 16 years access to an initial 45-minute check across four locations.
Prior to this service, children under the age of four were required to be referred to Gold Coast University Hospital’s audiology department for assessment or access private hearing services.
Children with low-risk hearing concerns between nine months to 16 years old can access the service.
“We needed a standard assessment as part of the broader speech concerns,” Acacia said.
“If we had to travel to Gold Coast University Hospital, we probably would have kept putting it off because it is quite far for us, especially with two young kids.
“Having the Palm Beach clinic just down the road was amazing. We got a text saying there was an appointment available, and it was an incredibly easy process.
"The staff were great at putting myself and Neeve at ease.”
“Local families were faced with barriers prior to these clinics, including limited appointment availability, travel costs and delayed intervention,” Senior Audiologist Sally-Ann Bidewell said.
“Being able to provide families with quicker access to hearing assessments closer to home with the new hearing clinics is making a considerable difference to families.”
Funding was provided as part of the Putting Queensland Kids First Program.
Since commencing the service in February 2025, more than 200 children have been seen at the clinics.
Of those, 78 percent have been discharged with normal results, while the outstanding children are referred onto further testing and support.
“There has been a notable reduction in accessing hearing services within the community since the clinics began,” Sally-Ann said.
“Being able to access public hearing screening quickly has meant we’ve been able to screen children more quickly and provide timely support such as ear health information for families awaiting further diagnosis and/or intervention.”
The Clinics are based at Ormeau Norfolk Village State School Health Hub, Upper Coomera, Palm Beach and Southport.
