The Poche Centre hearing van rolled into town earlier this week to begin free ear tests on local indigenous students. The van travels across the state providing the free service to rural and remote communities, who often find it too difficult to travel to a regional city.

Cowra High School students were tested on Wednesday, 2nd April, taking the number of tested children above 150.

Robyn Coffey is the Aboriginal Attendance Community Engagement Officer at the school and she is hopeful the program will become an annual fixture on the school calendar.

"We are very hopeful the van will return and carry out this vital service next year," said Mrs Coffey.

Since the service started its operations in November 2013, the Clinical Co-ordinator for Poche, Tanya Martin, has travelled all over the state.

"People struggle to make it into metropolitan areas, so we go to them," said Mrs Martin. Martin also lectures at Sydney University and is an advocate for improving the health standards of indigenous people in rural communities.

"The van has only been around for a short time but already the number of communities we have been into is quite high," said Mrs Martin.

Being the only van of its type, the Poche Centre are in high demand. Christine Peckham is the Chief Executive Officer of the Peakhill Aboriginal Medical Association and spent her Wednesday assisting with the tests.

The service operates largely due to the donations from a philanthropist and community partnerships. One well known organisation who offer their support, is the South Sydney rugby league side.

Mrs Coffey is hopeful next year some of the players will join the van in Cowra.