Flinders University researchers have released a free mobile application designed to help families and clinicians track ear and hearing health care for Indigenous children in Australia. The digital tool addresses chronic data gaps in rural and remote regions where young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience ear infections and hearing problems at about five times the rate of other children.
Ear disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children presents a persistent public health hurdle across Australia. Persistent infections damage speech development, hinder classroom learning, and disrupt children’s connection to culture and community. To tackle these entrenched hurdles, Flinders University researchers led a community study examining hearing care needs throughout Far West South Australia.
We yarned with Aboriginal families, health workers and schools, and they told us the ear health system is often fragmented.
Dr Celine Northcott, Flinders researcher
That community consultation revealed that young patients frequently encounter a revolving door of multiple different providers and clinicians over time. High staff turnover in remote areas exacerbates the problem, frequently leaving a child’s ear health history stranded between appointments.
Parents told us they were having to repeat their child’s ear health story to every new provider, and they needed a simpler way to keep that information in one place.
Dr Celine Northcott, Flinders researcher
Pathways App Consolidates Child Ear Health Journeys
To solve this fragmentation, the Pathways Project team brought together Flinders University Associate Professor Jacqueline Stephens, Samantha Rattos, Dr. Celine Northcott, and audiologist Lisa Callahan. Working alongside Aboriginal families and Far West Community Partnerships, the team developed the Pathways mobile app to consolidate a child’s ear health journey.
The application is entirely free and available to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play. Funding for the initiative came from the NHMRC under Grant GNT2015793, with development handled by KWP. The software’s visual identity incorporates custom artwork designed by Ngarrindjeri artist Jordan Lovegrove and Dunghutti artist Emily Ferry.
- A symptom and observation diary that constructs a timeline for families to share with their child’s doctor.
- A medication log equipped with dose reminders.
- An appointment tracker featuring reminders.
- A surgery tracker with reminders.
- Direct, easy access to a curated selection of trusted ear health resources.
Offline Capability and Pilot Evaluation in South Australia
Connectivity limitations in rural and remote regions required deliberate technical design. The software operates offline, ensuring families can log observations and review medical timelines even in areas with patchy mobile coverage. While tailored specifically to support Aboriginal families, the platform remains open for use by anyone.
The research group at Flinders University has initiated a pilot evaluation across the Far West of South Australia. This testing phase aims to measure how effectively the tool works in everyday life for Aboriginal families and to gather feedback on potential software improvements.