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Ninety-one Aboriginal children across Western NSW have received life-changing ear, nose and throat surgery through a targeted outreach initiative that brought together specialist clinicians, Aboriginal health services, hospital partners and health system stakeholders to address long-standing barriers to care.
The initiative enabled children from public waiting lists in Orange and Dubbo to access specialist ENT surgery, helping address conditions that can significantly affect hearing, learning, speech development, communication and overall wellbeing. Some children had been waiting up to two years for treatment.
Driven by Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS) and funded through Outreach Programs administered by RDN Health, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing through the Healthy Ears – Better Hearing, Better Listening (HEBHBL) program, the surgeries were made possible through a coordinated effort involving RDN Health, local ENT specialists, Dudley Private Hospital, Western NSW Local Health District and clinical and administrative teams across the region.
Head of Department ENT Orange Health Service and Consultant Otolaryngologist and Head & Neck Surgeon Dr Natalie Rainger also acknowledged the collaboration behind the program.
"We have been very grateful for all the support from OAMS and RDN Health in being able to get these children done. Thank you very much as well for allowing us to expand to include some of the at-risk children off the Dubbo waitlist. I have done a couple of kids from Dubbo that have been waiting for surgery for nearly two years."
ENT surgeon Dr Sam Roberts described the initiative as an important and highly successful effort to improve access to care for Aboriginal children across the region.
"Over four days at Dudley we managed to complete 51 cases from the public waitlists in Orange and Dubbo, giving early access to life-changing surgery for these children. Some of these patients had been booked for surgery up to two years ago and I am so glad we could get them access to the care they so desperately need."
The impact of the program extends beyond clinical outcomes. Children and families travelled from communities across Western NSW, including Orange, Dubbo, Bathurst, Parkes, Cowra, Lake Cargelligo and surrounding towns, highlighting the scale of demand for timely ENT care in the region. Program partners also identified families who had travelled long distances for treatment, children living with chronic ear conditions for many years, and practical supports such as accommodation and transport that helped families overcome barriers to specialist healthcare.
The need for this work has been clear for some time. Earlier planning identified significant ENT waitlists across Western NSW and highlighted the disproportionate impact of delayed surgery on Aboriginal children, including the potential effects on hearing, speech, learning, social connection and longer-term health and education outcomes.
Jamie Newman, CEO of Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, praised the commitment of the specialists and health partners involved.
"Without the willingness and support of the teams involved, 91 kids would still be in limbo with their hearing and life. OAMS, our little people and their families are forever grateful to everyone leading these life-changing operations.”
OAMS has also played a critical role in providing a culturally safe pathway for families, supporting access to ENT consultations, paperwork, transport, pre- and post-surgery care, and follow-up through its local care teams.
Ramsay Health Orange’s CEO David Boyce commented on the collaboration of this partnership, extending beyond clinicians.
“A big congratulations to RDN Health and the ENT surgeons for your hard work with this initiative which we are grateful to support. Walking around the ward this last 2 days I have seen a lot of activity from the kids who on the most part seem in very good spirits. In addition to our clinical staff, a big thanks also goes out to our Hotel Services team who have to double down for extra meals, linen and cleaning when families stay overnight, as well as admissions and admin teams for the intense paperwork management.”
RDN Health's Health Access Services Manager Amanda Masset said:
“These outcomes were made possible through the approval of HEBHBL funding to support access to ENT surgery for Aboriginal children requiring urgent care”.
The initiative demonstrates the importance of coordinated and focused partnerships between Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, specialists, hospitals, Local Health Districts and funding bodies in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal communities. By reducing wait times and improving access to essential surgery, the program has helped children receive care closer to home and at a time when it can make a significant difference to their development and daily lives.
While the outcomes are significant, demand for ENT services remains high across Western NSW, including in surrounding areas such as Dubbo. The success of the program shows what can be achieved through targeted funding, local leadership and strong collaboration, while also reinforcing the ongoing need for sustainable pathways so more Aboriginal children can access timely, culturally safe specialist care.