“That ICPA Qld lobbies Queensland Health and the Department of Education to extend the hearing and vision program beyond Prep students to include any students in rural and remote settings who are identified by teachers, Heads of Specific Needs, Heads of Inclusion or Principals as requiring screening.”
The hearing and vision screening program is a fantastic program that picks up any issues early in a child’s education and for that, families and schools are thankful. For rural and remote students, access to these services later in their schooling is important as there is not always easy access for these families to such services. The staff are already in the school for the Prep hearing and vision screening, so the ability to be able to have the older students concerns assessed, would be invaluable. This program would also include students studying through Distance Education and Home Schooling through cluster days.
1) Student A, in Year 2, was flagged by their school and the family travelled 480km one way to access an optometrist. The student was reported as needing glasses to read and to assist with fatigue in the eyes. This student passed the reading screening in Prep.
2) Student B, in Year 4, was flagged by their school and the family travelled 510 km one way to access an audiologist. This student is on the borderline of requiring hearing aids. The student passed the hearing screening in Prep.
