Samantha Harkus

I work for Hearing Australia: a national, federally funded organisation whose main focus is on providing rehabilitative hearing care to Australian children and adults, through funding provided by the Hearing Services Program.

I have worked at Hearing Australia for over 30 years, in a range of clinical and research roles. Between 2008 and 2021 I was Principal Audiologist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services, before taking up 3-year research role. One way or another, my work has focused on making access to hearing care easier and faster for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adults, while aiming to maintain consistency and quality of care. Highlights have included: - Providing rehab care in Redfern, central Australia, and now, on Cape York and in the Torres Strait Islands - Leading national efforts to reduce the age of first hearing aid fitting for young Aboriginal children (from 8 years to under 4 years). - Developing resources to assist primary health workers to assess ear health in young Aboriginal children (PLUM & HATS, tympanometry refresher training, Ear Health and Hearing check guidelines) - Developing comprehensive training for Hearing Australia audiologists, to prepare them for working in and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities - Establishing scholarships for Aboriginal students to study Audiology, at multiple universities, and annual lectures to 2nd year students on audiology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities. - Being a member technical advisory team behind the Otitis Media Guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.