Submission in Response to the Terms of Reference of the Parliamentary Inquiry into the High Level of Involvement of Indigenous Juveniles and Young Adults in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

Hearing loss affects between 40% (Urban) to - 70% (Remote) of Indigenous people, mainly as a result of endemic childhood ear disease. However, most professionals working with Indigenous clients are unaware that many of their clients are affected by hearing loss. This presentation will discuss the growing evidence of the impact hearing loss has on education, mental health, criminal justice and employment outcomes for Indigenous people. It will also outline how professionals can make their services more accessible to clients with hearing loss as well as achieve better outcomes for them.