HEARglobe: Exploring Equity and Cultural Considerations in Hearing Care
Dr Chris Waterworth and audiology student members of HEARglobe Ikram Mohammed Adam Jaji, Bianca Tia and Hanna Regi
HEARglobe, a University of Melbourne student-led group established in 2022, brings together students passionate about hearing health, education, engagement, advocacy and research across the globe.
Recently, the group held its annual symposium, featuring three speakers with diverse experiences in global hearing care: Donna Carkeet, an audiologist who has spent several years training audiologists in the Dominican Republic, Fiji and Papua New Guinea; Mwiche Sensenta, a PhD candidate at the University of Zambia whose research explores the lived experiences of people with chronic suppurative otitis media and strategies to strengthen ear and hearing care in Zambia and Malawi; and Shukri Abi, a former refugee from Somalia who now works closely with immigrant and refugee communities from diverse cultural backgrounds and continues to support audiology in Somalia.
Together, the speakers shared powerful perspectives on improving access to hearing care and navigating cultural considerations across Zambia, Somalia, Malawi, the Dominican Republic, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
The symposium encouraged students to consider what equity in hearing care means and how it may differ from western models of healthcare. It also explored cultural barriers to accessing hearing services, approaches to culturally sensitive care, and how the next generation of audiologists can contribute to shaping the future of hearing healthcare. It was a wonderful learning experience for attendees joining both in person and online, providing practical examples of how culturally safe practices can be incorporated into audiology to improve access to, and understanding of, hearing care. The symposium wrapped up with a panel discussion involving people with hearing loss and their families, who shared their lived experiences and highlighted the importance of self-advocacy.
Later this year, HEARglobe will host an international audiology student research symposium designed to connect students, share projects, ideas and opportunities. To stay up to date with this upcoming event, follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn at @HEARglobe.
Image description: the HEARglobe team at their recent Annual Symposium