Newborn Hearing Screening Policy
MP 0167/21 - Newborn Hearing Screening Policy (pdf 139KB)
Applicable to: This policy is applicable to Health Service Providers that provide newborn hearing screening tests.
Description: The Newborn Hearing Screening Policy (the policy) sets the mandatory requirements that outline roles, responsibilities and reporting requirements for Health Service Providers that provide services for newborn babies as part of the WA health system standard maternity and newborn health service, WA Newborn Hearing Screening Program.
The WA Newborn Hearing Screening Program involves screening newborn babies to identify those with moderate to profound (> 40 decibels) congenital permanent bilateral, unilateral sensory or permanent conductive hearing loss including neural hearing loss.
This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Public Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.
Date of effect: 29 July 2021
Policy Framework
Public Health
Newborn Hearing Screening Procedure (pdf 130KB)
Equipment Specification Requirements (pdf 294KB)
Annual Report and Performance Indicators Form (pdf 194KB)
Newborn Hearing Screening Policy Compliance Monitoring Audit Tool (pdf 243KB)
National Agreement of Council of Australian Governments (2009)
National Framework for Newborn Hearing Screening (2025)
Newborn Hearing Screening Program (Perth Children’s Hospital)
Newborn Hearing Screening Brochure (Perth Children’s Hospital)
Why does my baby need further hearing tests? (Perth Children’s Hospital)