The volunteer mobile health clinic is up for the Population Over 15,000 category in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory.

Created in 2011 by the Dubbo and District Parent Support Group for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Inc (Dubbo Deaf), the Hear our Heart Ear Bus Project was established due to the lack of services for ear health and hearing support within the local region with a particular focus on children from year 2 to adolescence.

Comprised of volunteers, Dubbo Deaf provides opportunities and access to medical and education assistance along with parental support within the community including implementing fundraising initiatives to improve the educations facilities available to deaf and hard of hearing children in the district, including their purpose built ear bus.

As a volunteer mobile health clinic, the ear bus travels to local schools promoting awareness, education, diagnosis and treatment of ear health problems within local children.

There is a particular focus on conditions including glue ear which causes behavioural problems, intermittent hearing loss and speech and learning problems which is found to be quite common and often missed.

Through the project, Dubbo Deaf hope by providing a location based approach for diagnoses will allow for early and accurate treatment and strengthen partnerships with local parents, school communities and children throughout the region.

Currently the project has been completed within three local schools within the Dubbo region, resulting in over 280 children having their hearing tested, with over 95 children diagnosed with hearing conditions that were previously undetected.

It is expected the Hear Our Heart Ear Bus Project will reach over 15,000 young people through the course of its program in the next few years encouraging healthy hearing throughout the region for years to come.

The annual awards program was initiated by PRIME7 and the Commonwealth Bank and provides an opportunity for communities to showcase their commitment to their community and be recognised state wide.

With fantastic prizes, the awards reward the hard working people of our remote and regional areas in NSW and the ACT.

This year the winner of the Prime Super Community of the Year Award will win $5000 thanks to the Commonwealth Bank.

Winners will be announced at a Gala Presentation to be held at the Wagga Wagga RSL Saturday November 1.

Nominations Close Thursday July 31.

The awards are proudly supported by The Land Newspaper, Angove Family Wine Makers and the Regional Australia Institute.

For more information on the Awards, contact the office on 02 9643 1677.