Sharon Claydon (Newcastle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate a wonderful Novocastrian, Associate Professor Dr Kelvin Kong, an ear, nose and throat specialist who has been nominated as a 2015 Hero of the Year finalist in the New South Wales Australian of the Year Awards. Dr Kong made history by becoming Australia's first Indigenous surgeon and is now breaking new ground with his mobile clinics and ear surgery mobile units in Aboriginal communities to cure ear disease in children.

The most common ear disease encountered is otitis media, a condition that is very rare in first world countries but is rampant in Indigenous populations in Australia. Effective treatment of the condition, particularly in children, can have a life-changing, life-long effect, and simple surgery at a young age can make an enormous difference to the life of the child—keeping them in school, opening up life choices and making sure that bright and talented kids do not get left behind.

In partnership with the Awabakal Medical Service in Newcastle, Dr Kong has launched a suite of animations and educational material aimed at improving ear health. The Lil Mike program uses culturally appropriate, evidence based information to improve understanding of ear health, in a package that is fun and interactive. The star of the program is Lil Mike, a young Aboriginal rapper, whose catch-cry is, 'If you can't hear, you're missing out.'

I encourage all members to check out Lil Mike and his ear health message, and congratulate Dr Kong for his nomination and the Awabakal Medical Service for their continued dedication to closing the gap.