Building blocks for success: Earbus Foundation’s classroom innovation in rural WA

For over a decade, Earbus Foundation of WA has been on a mission to improve ear health and hearing outcomes for vulnerable children. Through its deep-rooted work in remote communities, Earbus recognised a pressing need beyond hearing services—many children were missing crucial early development support due to a lack of foundational services such as speech pathology and occupational therapy. This gap affected not only their ability to hear but also their ability to learn, socialise, and thrive.

“Our team see firsthand how hearing loss in early childhood can impact every part of a child’s development,” said Earbus CEO and co-founder, Dr Lara Shur. “Through consultations with community members and educators, and feedback from our clinicians, it became clear that a shortage of speech pathologists and occupational therapists was affecting children’s progress across the board.”

Earbus didn’t just see a problem; they set out to find a solution.

Ana Mairata, an Earbus speech pathologist and the project lead, was entrusted with designing a program to address this unmet need. The approach was two-fold: empower local educators already working with these children every day; and provide expertise for individual children so that strategies can be implemented across all aspects of their life.

Ana and the team embarked on a listening tour of the Pilbara, speaking directly with school staff to understand their challenges and identify what would work best in a classroom setting. “It was clear that teachers needed practical, flexible resources that could integrate into daily learning. From that, the School Therapy Enhancement Program (STEP) was born,” Ana explained.

The Journey to STEP

STEP is no ordinary intervention. It’s a classroom-based program developed in close partnership with local educators and community members designed to support early learners from Kindy to Year 2 by building essential skills for future learning. Ana and the team created twelve themed modules, giving teachers the flexibility to select those most relevant to their classrooms. The themes range from skills such as listening and remembering to more complex skills like emotional regulation—helping children manage their feelings over a school day, a common challenge in the early years.

The program was rolled out as a pilot in schools in the inland Pilbara region of WA. Teachers from schools such as Paraburdoo Primary School, an early adopter of the program, provided invaluable feedback. “Their insights helped us refine the program to make it even more effective and relevant,” Ana said.

STEP’s Impact on Community and Learning

Designed to address the unique needs of regional and remote classrooms, STEP is more than a program; it’s a support system for teachers and students alike. The program offers professional development for educators, easy-to-follow lesson plans, and a flexible structure that fits into the rhythm of each classroom and school community. The goal is not only to enhance learning but to raise awareness about the often-overlooked impact of hearing health on a child’s developmental journey.

With the implementation of STEP, Earbus is building skills within regional communities, rather than leaving children and families to rely on often inconsistent external support. Reflecting on the pilot’s success, Ana reflected how inspiring it has been to see how these small, targeted interventions can make such a big difference in a child’s life. “By supporting educators on the ground, we’re creating a foundation for children’s growth and learning that extends well beyond the classroom”, she said.

Earbus is preparing for a broader rollout in 2025 with the aim of bringing lasting improvements in health and education to more schools across Western Australia.