In September an implementation workshop took place in Auckland. There was full representation from the three DHBs currently screening (Waikato, Hawke's Bay and Tairawhiti) and the nine DHBs that will begin screening in the 2008/2009 financial year. The NSU is working closely with the DHBs to ensure their readiness to begin screening. The Ministry of Education continues to work closely with the NSU to ensure early intervention services will be availabel to babies detected with a hearing loss as the DHB's begin their screening services.

Workforce development

The University of Canterbury has been contracted by the NSU to provide the training for the newborn hearing screeners over the next two years. DHB's will offer screening once staff have successfully completed the training.

Resources

The four parent resources are now printed and are available in pdf or in hard copy from the HealthEd website www.healthed.govt.nz. The Ministry of Education is organising a second printing of family and professional resources in preparation for the implementation of phase two and three of UNHSEIP. These will be distributed to Advisors and to the parents and whanau of newborns identified through the UNHSEIP.

Programme Evaluation Measures

The Monitoring Policy and Information System Working Group has completed its task to develop a Monitoring Framework for UNHSEIP.  The Framework will be used with DHBs that have established their newborn hearing screening programmes.