Purpose of the Group

The National Screening Unit (NSU) of the Ministry of Health is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for screening in New Zealand. The NSU is establishing the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Implementation Advisory Group to support the NSU to achieve its vision, namely:

Saving lives, reducing inequalities and building the Nation's health by leading the delivery of screening programmes, uncompromising in their quality and trusted by the communities we serve.

Role of the Group

The role of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Implementation Advisory Group is to primarily provide multidisciplinary advice on matters pertaining to the national implementation of the newborn hearing screening programme. It is also acknowledged that the pathway from screening, through diagnosis and treatment to early health and education intervention, needs to be made seamless for families and whanau.

To find out more about the UNHS Implementation Advisory Group read the group's Terms of Reference.

Members

The Group comprises members who collectively have wide knowledge and experience in newborn care, screening programmes, hearing loss and associated interventions and/or follow-up. The membership consists of:

•     Paediatricians
•     University of Auckland
•     Adviser of Deaf Children
•     New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology
•     Project HEIDI
•     Ministry of Education
•     P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A
•     Ministry of Health
•     Parent Representatives
•     Van Asch Deaf Education Centre
•     Child and Youth Health - Ministry of Health
•     New Zealand College of Midwives
•     University of Otago
•     Well Child