Around 80 children and families gathered at Newman’s Train Park recently for Kunyjunyu Kurla (Healthy Ears), a vibrant community event delivered by Ear Science Institute Australia and proudly supported by Mineral Resources (MinRes), the Shire of East Pilbara and the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS). The event marked the fourth consecutive year Ear Science has hosted the popular community celebration in Newman.
Kunyjunyu Kurla (Healthy Ears) Event
The afternoon featured family-friendly activities, giveaways and a free barbecue dinner prepared by the MinRes Lamb Creek site team, creating an opportunity for local families to connect with our team and celebrate community partnerships.
The event is part of Ear Science’s Healthy Hearing Outback Program, which provides specialist ear and hearing health services, in partnership with PAMS, across East Pilbara communities including Newman, Jigalong, Punmu, Kunawarritji and Parnngurr. Earlier this year, MinRes renewed its partnership with Ear Science for a further three years, helping to ensure these vital services continue to reach children and families living in remote communities.
Local Leadership in Ear Health
A cornerstone of the partnership has been the development of local leadership in ear health. Supported initially through MinRes funding, Ear Science established a dedicated coordination role to strengthen collaboration between services and streamline patient care. Today, that investment has evolved into the Ear Health Program Lead, working alongside PAMS as they employ their own Ear Health Coordinator, the first of it’s kind within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in the Pilbara! The impact of the program continues to grow. In FY26, Ear Science delivered 195 on-Country ENT appointments, 207 on-Country hearing tests and 38 telehealth consultations, bringing specialist care closer to home for people living across the region.
Ear Science Ear Health Program Lead, Lucy Zanin, said the organisation was proud of what had been achieved through its partnership with PAMS and MinRes.
The support of MinRes has enabled us to grow the program, strengthen community engagement and build a model of care that is delivering real impact,” said Lucy Zanin. “Seeing PAMS appoint its own Ear Health Coordinator is a significant milestone and reflects the success of this partnership. It represents an important step towards sustainable, community-led ear health services.
She added that Kunyjunyu Kurla is more than a community event.
The Kunyjunyu Kurla event is a wonderful celebration of our partnerships and an opportunity to connect with community members and other services outside of the clinical setting.
Through strong partnerships and a commitment to delivering care closer to home, Ear Science continues to support better hearing and ear health outcomes for children, families and communities across the Pilbara.
