Ms Sally Higgins1, Ms Melissa Moyano1, Dr Melinda Barker1,2,3
1Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP). Centre For Community Child Health, Royal Childrens Hospital Victoria, Parkville, Australia, 2Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, Australia, 3Murdoch Children’s Institute, Parkville, Australia
Biography:
Sally Higgins is a Senior Area Manager at VIHSP, where she has spent 15 years leading various teams within the program, driving both operational success and team cohesion. With over 20 years of experience in healthcare, particularly in the paediatric sector, Sally combines her clinical expertise with exceptional team development skills to achieve high-performance outcomes. She is particularly passionate about the hearing health of newborns and the significant impact that early hearing screening has on their development and language acquisition
Abstract
The Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP) is one of the largest community workforces within the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, with over 150 staff members working across 64 maternity services throughout Victoria. Operating seven days a week, 364 days a year, VIHSP ensures that every newborn is offered timely and effective hearing screening. To maintain excellent standards, it is essential that all staff undergo comprehensive, high-quality training.
A recent review identified a chance to enhance the training offered to new VIHSP hearing screeners. Over time, the training for these screeners had developed in an inconsistent, ad hoc manner, highlighting the need for a clearer training approach. In response, a project was initiated to redesign the training materials, which now include presentations, videos, quizzes, and e-learning modules. These resources are intended to support new screeners while also serving as refreshers for existing staff, thereby improving the overall knowledge and skills of the entire workforce.
In early 2024, the new training modules were introduced with Area Managers playing a key role in the rollout. Post-training survey evaluations indicated a significant increase in satisfaction among Area Managers concerning the effectiveness of training delivery methods. Concurrently, hearing screeners reported that the training was both effective and easy to follow, suggesting improvements in the clarity and accessibility of the instructional materials. These outcomes emphasise the enhanced effectiveness of the newly implemented training model.