Training in Culturally Responsive Care
Audiology Australia is proud to host training opportunities that assist audiologists and hearing care professionals with providing culturally responsive care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.
We applaud and support the work of audiologists and hearing health professionals who are helping to close the hearing health gap.
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families
Produced: Audiology Australia Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Contributors: Sam Harkus, Dixon Patten (Bitja) (Bayila Creative), Rebecca Allnutt, Debbie Taylor-Thomson and Jennifer Stuart (Hearing Health Services Central Australia, NT Health), and Katie Edney and Ashleigh Dyson (Victorian Aboriginal Health Service)
CPD Points: Category 1.2, 1.5 points
Cost: Free
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Whether you’re based in the heart of the Northern Territory or metropolitan Melbourne, Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families will equip you and your clinic team with tools and insights to deliver culturally responsive care.
Start elevating your practice immediately with our easily implemented and practical tools and approaches including:
- Asking meaningful questions and deep listening
- The art of taking client history
- Exploring results
- Insights tailored to resonate across diverse practice settings.
While developed by audiologists, for audiologists, this training is also applicable to ENTs and other hearing health professionals.
Acknowledgment and thanks
We thank Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSLHD Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service, NSLHD Mental Health Drug & Alcohol, and the City of Greater Dandenong for granting us permission to use their videos in this training.
Get involved
Complete this short survey to provide feedback on the City of Greater Dandenong’s video Biladu-njan / To Ask (included in this training).
Read our Q&A
Learn more about the people behind the training session in this Q&A with Katie and Ashleigh published during National Reconciliation Week 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I take the training if I am a non-member?
This training is free for all to view. Here’s how to access it if you’re not a member:
- Please follow the link to the training video and click “Register now”.
- If you are not signed in to a member account, you will be prompted to sign up with Audiology Australia and can sign up for a free non-member account with Audiology Australia if you do not wish to pursue full membership. Create your non-member account.
- Once you have created your account, you can continue to the training video and follow the prompts to register.
- You can then watch the training in your My Online Learning page. Click on “Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families”.
Where can I find cultural safety and awareness training?
This session is not a replacement for comprehensive cultural safety and awareness training but a chance to learn about or reflect on information, tips, examples and resources covering a range of topics and contexts.
We encourage you to use the below list to access cultural safety and awareness training, as well as seeking cultural training specific to your local area:
- Centre for Cultural Competence Australia (CCCA): CCCA is an organisation dedicated to the training and development of individuals and organisations in the field of ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence’.
- Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC): To support you in starting, transitioning and enjoying your time working in a remote NT Aboriginal community, RAHC has designed a collection of free online eLearning modules.
- Indigenous Allied Health Association IAHA: Cultural safety training using our evidence-based Cultural Responsiveness Framework.
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation: A number of training courses, including: Cultural awareness training, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Competence Course, and Introduction to Culturally Safe and Inclusive Practice.
- Emerging Minds Learning: A number of e-learning courses on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.
- Western Australian Centre for Rural Health: Clinical Yarning: ELearning and links to other resources. The Clinical Yarning E-Learning program aims to improve the effectiveness of communication in Aboriginal health care by using the Clinical Yarning model. It is a free stage one and foundation course.
Who is this training for?
Audiology Australia developed Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families to address a gap in audiologist led cultural training for hearing health professionals. AudA is also committed to increasing its paediatric-focussed CPD offerings following introduction of the Advanced Paediatric Audiologist certification.
This training is designed for audiologists and clinic teams who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families or who may work with them in the future, regardless of their practice setting – urban, regional or remote.
In addition, it is valuable for:
- audiologists or other hearing care professionals who may not currently have or are unaware of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
- CAPA AudA members or those considering applying for certification.
How does this training relate to the NCS and PCS Competencies?
This training supports multiple competencies specified in both the National Competency Standards and the Paediatric Competency Standards referencing the distinct hearing health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the importance of understanding culturally safe practice and cultural sensitivity.
What is AudA's stance on reconciliation?
AudA believes addressing hearing health inequalities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and non-Indigenous Australians is a key step towards reconciliation. We can and must do better to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to better meet local needs and empower communities. This training helps audiologists to take practical steps towards meeting these needs.
The session aligns to actions detailed in the AudA Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. Marking the start of our reconciliation journey, our ‘Reflect’ RAP reaffirms and strengthens our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led organisations and audiologists within our membership and networks. It signals our commitment to advocacy and action to strengthen hearing health and workforce outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Hear From Past Attendees of the Online Training Session
I found it very informative to hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and how to best provide culturally sensitive care. “Listen and Learn” – with Indigenous people, I found to be helpful in not projecting my own ideas by listening and being respectful and asking questions in the right context (being open to doing things differently as a clinician).
Very well put-together session, including important information about asking the question, and engaging with community & caregivers, as well as tools to assist with scaffolding conversation to assist with the diagnosis process. The role-plays, videos, and the artist’s description of the Deep Listening artwork added cultural context and created a more holistic way to present the information.
Working in the public health sector this session was invaluable. It gave me a much deeper understanding of how to provide the most culturally appropriate health care I can. It made me consider things that I hadn’t prior.
Talking Culture
Produced: Audiology Australia Time: 35 minutes
Contributors: Eleni Green (Senior Speech Pathologist, NT Health), Megan O’Rorke (Audiology Australia)
CPD Points: Category 1.2, 0.5 points
Cost: Free (members only)
Log in and watch
Audiologists are encouraged to view and download the resources and watch the recorded webinar for ideas on how to incorporate the resources into their practice.
You’ll learn about the background of the initiative and specific resources:
- Otitis Media Resource.
- Ear Health Strategies.
- Speech and Language Development Strategies.
- Family Goal Setting and Interview Tool.
- Speech Screener.
Resources for Further Learning
Continue your self-directed learning by accessing downloadable readings and resources, including The updated OM-6 Quality of Life Survey referred to by Sam Harkus in the Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Families session.
View All Online Training Opportunities
Audiology Australia members can view and access all training opportunities to help you enhance your understanding of how to provide culturally responsive care on the AudA Member Hub.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Read about how Audiology Australia is working towards reconciliation and improvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hearing health.