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ACQ Volume 13, Number 3 2011 143
due to its preliminary nature, the small size of the
partnership, and the brief evaluation timeframe. It should
also be noted that the partnership exists within a context
where extensive community engagement and relationship
building has been completed prior to its initiation, and
without this, the outcomes may have been different. Further
evaluation over time is recommended; however, this model,
with its positive benefits within the community and beyond,
may be worth considering for implementation in other
communities, to help support sustainable community
outcomes.
References
Boswell, J.B., & Nienhuys, T.G. (1995). Onset of otitis media
in the first eight weeks of life in Aboriginal and non-
Aboriginal Australian infants. Annals of Otology, Rhinology &
Laryngology, 104, 542–549.
Couzos, S., Metcalf, S., & Murray, R. (2001). Systematic
review of existing evidence and primary care guidelines on
the management of otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander populations . Canberra: Office for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Health Services, Commonwealth
Department of Health and Family Service.
Morris, P.S., Leach, A.J., Silberberg, P., Mellon,
G., Wilson, C., Hamilton, E., & Beissbarth, J. (2005).
Otitis medica in young Aboriginal children from remote
communities in northern and central Australia: A cross-
sectional survey. BMC Pediatrics. 2. Retrieved from http://
Pyett P., Waples-Crowe, P., and Sterren, A. (2008).
Challenging our own practices in Indigenous health
promotion and research. Health Promotion Journal of
Australia, 19(3), 179–183.
Queensland Health. (2009). Deadly ears deadly kids
deadly communities: 2009–2013. Brisbane: Queensland
Government.
VicHealth. (2004). The partnership analysis tool for
partners in health promotion. Retrieved from http://www.
Williams, C. J., & Jacobs, A.M. (2009). The impact of
otitis media on cognitive and educational outcomes. MJA,
191 , s69-s72.
1 Indigenous refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people of
Australia
Positive behaviour changes within the
childcare setting
The representatives of the three services, and the
Undoonoo Day Care director in particular, felt the staff had
an improved ability to identify children with ear health and
communication difficulties and to refer to the appropriate
health service provider. They also identified greater flexibility
in the thinking of staff when it comes to strategies to
support ear health and early development: “It [the
partnership] has given the staff ideas to go outside of the
box and look for different strategies especially with ears and
language development”.
It was also reported that the partnership enabled open
communication between the three services, which had
a flow-on effect in that the staff at Undoonoo are now
being “recognised as educators not babysitters” by the
community. Staff are “valued by the community and the
community learns what good work they do. This inspires
them to continue working when times are difficult”.
In addition to the benefits outlined above, the partnership
has been able to (indirectly) influence children in other
Indigenous communities. Rural support teachers have
reported that the series of VTCs delivered by Deadly Ears
staff have completely “transformed” their practice with
respect to supporting staff with children who have language
difficulties, and they have been more readily able to identify
children with OM and refer them for appropriate treatment.
Another teacher reported that this model of service delivery
was “looking at the condition holistically” and she “believes
it is vital that we [rural support teachers] incorporate this
program into education programs for early childhood
centres not only concentrating on remote area centres but
also urban, as the condition [OM] is everywhere”.
Potential areas for improvement
The areas identified for the partnership’s continued growth
include strategies to: 1) ensure alternative views are
expressed; 2) develop a way of reviewing the range of
potential partners to add to the collaboration; and 3) bring
in new members.
Conclusion and future directions
From the preliminary evaluation done to date, the
partnership between Undoonoo Day Care centre, Deadly
Ears program, and the CSSP appears to have delivered
positive outcomes for the day care children, staff, and the
wider Woorabinda community. This has been foremost in
terms of the increased identification of OM and
communication difficulties, and improved use of strategies
to support the children in the centre. It has also been an
effective means of empowering an ear health promoting
environment in the community through collaboration on a
range of community-driven strategies. Through a
partnership we were able to build the capacity of the key
stakeholders in the community, as well as the services
within the partnership, which will enable more sustainable
outcomes. The results of this evaluation are limited in scope
Andrea Coleman completed her Bachelor of speech pathology in
2006 and is currently employed by the Deadly Ears Program. Jillian
Scholes is a speech pathologist and the allied health team leader
with the Deadly Ears program.
Correspondence to:
Jillian Scholes
Speech Pathologist/Allied Health Team Leader
Queensland Health
Deadly Ears Program, PO Box 1507, Fortitude Valley 4006
phone: 0422 009 327
email: