The Honda Foundation and Wangara Honda have proudly donated more than $7,000 to Earbus Foundation of Western Australia to buy a multi-frequency Tympanometer to test the hearing of babies under the age of seven months.
THE HONDA FOUNDATION AND WANGARA HONDA HAVE PROUDLY DONATED MORE THAN $7,000 TO EARBUS FOUNDATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA TO BUY A MULTI-FREQUENCY TYMPANOMETER TO TEST THE HEARING OF BABIES UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN MONTHS.
With ear health a critical concern in some Western Australia communities, Earbus Foundation and Starlight Children’s Foundation collaborated in 2015 to facilitate mobile ear health checks for Aboriginal children in the South West region of Western Australia.Both organisations have specific roles to ensure a seamless experience for the children. Earbus Foundation team provides hearing tests and medical treatment while Starlight attracts children to the clinics by providing entertainment as a distraction for those waiting to be seen by the clinical team.
Middle ear disease or Otitis Media (OM) is a common health concern for children living in some Indigenous communities and the disease thrives in conditions of poverty. OM causes hearing loss, which results in delayed learning and development. For young Aboriginal children, education is the only pathway out of poverty.
“The Honda Foundation would like to commend Earbus and Starlight Foundation for making a difference to those in need within the Western Australian Indigenous community,” Chairman of The Honda Foundation, Mr. Stephen Collins said.
Earbus and Starlight Foundation’s goal is to reduce chronic ear disease, hearing loss rates and referral rates for surgical intervention due to Otitis Media of primary aged Aboriginal children in South West of Western Australia by 50 per cent or more by the end of a three-year program.
"We are extremely grateful for the support of The Honda Foundation in assisting us to acquire equipment for our important work in Aboriginal communities across WA,” the CEO of Earbus Foundation WA, Mr. Paul Higginbotham, said.
“Earbus Foundation tries to focus its resources on delivering services to children and communities in regional and remote communities so we rely on generous supporters like The Honda Foundation to help us purchase much-needed equipment for our doctors, nurses and specialists," he said.
The Honda Foundation aims to assist local communities at a grassroots level, across Australia.
For every new Honda vehicle sold in Australia, the Honda dealership donates $5 and Honda Australia donates $10, taking the total to $15 that goes into a donation pool.
Last year Honda Australia sold 46,783 vehicles, so each donation has a direct impact and provides strong support through The Honda Foundation.
More than $10 million has been donated to hundreds of worthy causes, including empowering disadvantaged Australians, providing relief for victims of natural disasters and supporting the development of new technologies and research to fight disease.
In Western Australia alone, The Honda Foundation has donated almost $620,000 since inception 26 years ago.