Ear Surgical Support Program

  • About 270 ear-related surgeries were delivered through the Eye and Ear Surgical Support Program from July 2022 to June 2023.

The Ear Surgical Support Program makes it easier for First Nations people to access ear surgery, especially those living in rural and remote locations. The program aims to provide a culturally safe surgical pathway at the nearest available location to the patient’s home, access to hospital theatre time and access to bulk-billing surgeons. The program also arranges travel and accommodation for the surgical patient and carer, where needed.

From July 2022 to June 2023, there were nearly 270 ear-related surgeries delivered through the Ear Surgical Support Program.

Surgeries were delivered in New South Wales (66, 25% of these surgeries), Victoria (11, 4.1%), Queensland (62, 23%), Western Australia (23, 8.6%), South Australia (71, 27%) and Tasmania (35, 13%). 

South Australia (13 per 10,000) and Tasmania (10 per 10,000) had the highest rates of ear-related surgeries supported through the Ear Surgical Support Program (data table 3.5).

Ear Surgical Support Program data were not available for the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory.

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