In July 2002, the Australian Health Ministers Conference (AHMC) requested the Medical Service Advisory Committee (MSAC) undertake an assessment on the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of universal neonatal hearing screening. In 2008, MSAC released the which Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Assessment Report, addressed these issues but did not make recommendations with a view to establishing a national neonatal hearing screening program. In March 2008, the Screening Subcommittee of the then Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee (APHDPC) agreed to examine the feasibility of a national approach to neonatal hearing screening. It established the Neonatal Hearing Screening Working Group with the following terms of reference: Assess neonatal hearing screening against the Population Based Screening Framework. Develop minimum national standards for screening services and post screening follow-up with regards to audiology, medical intervention, family counselling, intervention and education. Consider and develop screening pathway to improve population coverage for neonatal hearing screening in . Develop a national quality and reporting framework for consideration by the Screening Subcommittee of the Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee and Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council. Establish an agreed national approach to data collection and management and data sharing. In July 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a proposal that universal neonatal hearing screening would be available in all states and territories by the end of 2010. Assessing neonatal hearing screening against the AHMAC Population Based Screening Framework The Population Based Screening Framework takes into account the World Health Organisation (WHO) principles and elaborates on them in the Australian context. The Framework, developed with input from a wide range of experts in screening, is based on the latest available evidence and informed by experience with existing Australian population screening programs. The Framework has been divided into two parts: the criteria used to assess whether screening should be offered, or a screening program introduced, for diseases or conditions; and the key principles for the implementation and management of screening programs. The Framework, like all population screening programs, is underpinned by the principles of access and equity. It is intended to provide information and guidance on the key issues to be considered in the development of a population screening program in . An assessment of the national approach to neonatal hearing screening against the Framework’s criteria is at Appendix C.
In July 2002, the Australian Health Ministers Conference (AHMC) requested the Medical Service Advisory Committee (MSAC) undertake an assessment on the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of universal neonatal hearing screening. In 2008, MSAC released the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Assessment Report, which addressed these issues but did not make recommendations with a view to establishing a national neonatal hearing screening program. In March 2008, the Screening Subcommittee of the then Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee (APHDPC) agreed to examine the feasibility of a national approach to neonatal hearing screening. It established the Neonatal Hearing Screening Working Group with the following terms of reference: Assess neonatal hearing screening against the Population Based Screening Framework. Develop minimum national standards for screening services and post screening follow-up with regards to audiology, medical intervention, family counselling, intervention and education. Consider and develop screening pathway to improve population coverage for neonatal hearing screening in . Develop a national quality and reporting framework for consideration by the Screening Subcommittee of the Australian Population Health Development Principal Committee and Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council. Establish an agreed national approach to data collection and management and data sharing. In July 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a proposal that universal neonatal hearing screening would be available in all states and territories by the end of 2010. Assessing neonatal hearing screening against the AHMAC Population Based Screening Framework The Population Based Screening Framework takes into account the World Health Organisation (WHO) principles and elaborates on them in the Australian context. The Framework, developed with input from a wide range of experts in screening, is based on the latest available evidence and informed by experience with existing Australian population screening programs. The Framework has been divided into two parts: the criteria used to assess whether screening should be offered, or a screening program introduced, for diseases or conditions; and the key principles for the implementation and management of screening programs. The Framework, like all population screening programs, is underpinned by the principles of access and equity. It is intended to provide information and guidance on the key issues to be considered in the development of a population screening program in . An assessment of the national approach to neonatal hearing screening against the Framework’s criteria is at Appendix C.