'Pina pulka (big ear)' launched to promote Indigenous ear health in the Goldfields

The Pina pulka (big ear), an inflatable, walk through model of the human ear, was launched 21 February at Kingsbury Park as part of a health promotion project for Aboriginal children in the Goldfields.

The project, Pina palya, pina kulilku (good ear, good learning), aims to get more Aboriginal children hearing well by the time they reach school age and is a collaboration between the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Ngunytju Tjitji Pirni, the Rural Clinical School and Population Health. It builds on prior research findings that emphasised the need for early ear screening and an enhanced awareness campaign for prevention of ear disease in the Kalgoorlie region.

Over 150 people attended the event, having their ears checked and participating in soap making and 'GlitterBug', a learning activity that teaches handwashing. Attendees were also able to walk through the Pina pulka to discover the anatomy of the ear.

The Pina pulka is available for events in the Goldfields for the duration of the Healthway funded project, for the remainder of this year.

Ear health 720 ABC Radio Perth

Links

• View conference presentation: Pina palya, pina kulilku (good ears, good learning)
• View publication: The Kalgoorlie Otitis Media Research Project: rationale, methods, population characteristics and ethical considerations
• View information: GlitterBug handwashing education system
• View news item: The big ear [interview Dr Deborah Lehmann, Principal Research Fellow, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research]