The EarTrain Program
EarTrain is a fully funded online program for primary health professionals treating otitis media and hearing conditions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Delivered nationwide by TAFE NSW, funded by the Australian Government and part of Closing the Gap until 30 June, 2026.
About EarTrain
The EarTrain program will provide:
- flexible blended learning through online and face-to-face workshops to fit your schedule
- practical skills to perform hearing assessments to make a real difference in patient care
- mentorship and support from experienced audiologists and health professionals to build your confidence
- an option to earn the nationally recognised qualification, Statement of Attainment in Conduct Play Audiometry (HLTAUD002), upon completion of additional skills workshops and assessments
Program eligibility
If you are a primary health care professional providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, you are eligible to participate in the EarTrain program.
Frequently asked questions
EarTrain is a fully funded program designed to upskill health workers in ear and hearing health. The program offers a range of benefits:
- Flexible Online Learning: Access the program online and work through the content at your own pace.
- Practical Skills Workshops: Participate in hands-on workshops delivered in local communities across Australia. These sessions are tailored to meet local needs and are suitable for all experience levels鈥攆rom beginners to those seeking a skills refresher.
- Customised Training: Workshops are adapted to suit the specific needs of each community and participant group.
- Recognition of Learning:
- Earn digital certificates for completing online modules.
- Receive certificates for practical skills by completing logbooks during in-person sessions.
If you are a primary health care professional providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, you are eligible to participate in the EarTrain program.
- - Provides information, initiatives, and resources about ear health in Australia.
- - Aims to raise awareness of ear disease and hearing loss in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Offers free resources for parents, carers, teachers, early childhood groups, and health professionals.
- - Offers simple checklists to help health and early childhood workers ask the right questions about a child鈥檚 listening and speaking skills.
- - The 2020 guidelines support primary health care providers in delivering effective and culturally appropriate care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with otitis media (ear infections).
Yes, the EarTrain program is available Australia-wide.
Yes, teachers and childcare workers are welcome to register for EarTrain and access the online content. However, please note that the practical skills workshops are not designed for these roles and may not be relevant to their professional needs.
Yes. If you enrol in the nationally accredited unit of competency HLTAUD002 Conduct Play Audiometry and complete all the requirements, you will receive a nationally recognised accreditation.
To enrol, make sure you select the option on the registration page: 鈥淚 am interested in enrolling in the National Unit of Competency, HLTAUD002 Conduct Play Audiometry.鈥�
If you don鈥檛 select this option during registration, you鈥檒l still have the opportunity to express your interest through the online platform.
It can take approximately 4 to 31 hours, depending on your job role and the recommended learning. Each topic also features a clock icon indicating the estimated time required to complete it.
The program runs until 30 June 2026. You may continue studying until the program end date.
Yes, you can. A downloadable mobile app is available for the platform. You can download topics while you're online and access them later when offline. Your progress will automatically sync with the platform the next time you're connected to the internet.
Yes, you can attend a workshop without completing the online topics; however, we recommend reviewing the relevant content beforehand to get the most out of the practical experience.
To be eligible to participate in the EarTrain program, you must be a primary health care professional who provides care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
EarTrain is a fully funded program. While the online training and practical skills workshops are free to attend, participants may need to cover their own travel, accommodation, and other associated costs when attending a practical skills workshop.
The practical skills workshops are optional; however, they are strongly recommended for those directly involved in the assessment and treatment of ear health.
If you wish to enrol in the nationally accredited unit HLTAUD002 Conduct Play Audiometry, attendance at the practical skills workshops is required.
Participants can earn a certificate of completion based on the skills demonstrated during a Practical Skills Workshop.
If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, you can contact the EarTrain Team at eartrain@tafensw.edu.au.