Lyla Lindsey
Hearing Australia, previously known as Australian Hearing Services, is a government-funded organisation that provides hearing services to Australian citizens. It was established in 1947 to help children affected by a rubella epidemic and veterans who experienced hearing loss during World War II. Hearing Australia offers a range of services, including hearing tests, consultations, and hearing aids, with a focus on supporting children, veterans, Indigenous adults over 50, and pensioners. The organisation operates under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991 and is the largest provider of government-funded hearing care in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1947 |
| Type of organisation | Government body |
| Services provided | Hearing services, including testing, consultations about hearing loss, and dispensing hearing aids |
| Customer base | Children, veterans, indigenous adults over the age of 50, and pensioners |
| Funding | Government-funded |
| Eligibility | Australian citizens or permanent residents under the age of 26 |
| Research division | National Acoustic Laboratories |
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What You'll Learn
Australian Hearing Services Act 1991
The Australian Hearing Services Act 1991 established Australian Hearing Services as a Commonwealth Government statutory authority. The organisation is now known as Australian Hearing and is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in Australia.
Australian Hearing was originally set up in 1947 to help provide hearing services to children affected by a rubella epidemic and to World War II veterans who experienced hearing problems. Its research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, was first established as the Acoustic Research Laboratory in 1942 to investigate noise on behalf of the Australian Military during World War II. After the war, the laboratory was taken over by the Commonwealth Department of Health (now the Department of Health and Ageing) and renamed the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories. The research division's current focus areas include hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation devices, and hearing rehabilitation procedures.
Australian Hearing provides hearing services to children, young adults up to the age of 26, eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pensioners, and veterans. These services include hearing testing, consultations about hearing loss, and dispensing hearing aids. To receive hearing services from Australian Hearing, patients must meet certain eligibility criteria. Australian citizens or permanent residents under the age of 26 are eligible for government-funded hearing healthcare services. Other eligible groups include holders of Pensioner Concession Cards or their dependents, recipients of a sickness allowance from Centrelink or their dependents, and Department of Veterans' Affairs Health Card holders or their dependents.
Australian Hearing has over 180 locations across Australia and is committed to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and advancing their health, wellbeing, and self-determination.
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Hearing Australia's history
Origins:
The roots of Hearing Australia can be traced back to 1942 when the Acoustic Research Laboratory (ARL) was established to investigate the effects of noise on military personnel during World War II. In 1944, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) took over the ARL, continuing its work on noise investigation.
Post-World War II Expansion:
After the war, the focus of the ARL shifted to helping those affected by hearing issues. In 1947, the ARL expanded its role to include the assessment and rehabilitation of children impacted by rubella outbreaks. This expansion marked the beginning of Hearing Australia's broader mission to assist those with hearing difficulties.
Renaming and Government Involvement:
In 1948, the ARL was renamed the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories (CAL) when the then Department of Health took over its operations. The CAL began providing hearing services to returning World War II veterans and school children, recognizing the need to support those affected by the war and the earlier rubella outbreaks.
Statutory Authority and Expansion:
In 1991, the Australian Hearing Services Act established Australian Hearing Services (AHS) as a Commonwealth Government Statutory Authority. The National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) was retained as its research division. This move solidified Hearing Australia's role as a government-backed provider of hearing services.
Recent Developments:
Hearing Australia has continued to evolve and expand its services. In 2007, funding was provided for research into prevention activities to address avoidable hearing loss in Australia. The Hearing Loss Prevention Program (HLPP) grants were administered by the NHMRC. In 2012, key reforms were introduced, expanding eligibility for hearing services to young adults aged 21-25.
Today, Hearing Australia is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in Australia, catering to children, young adults, veterans, indigenous adults, and pensioners. With over 180 locations across the country, Hearing Australia remains committed to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and providing expert hearing care to all Australians.
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Hearing Australia's services
Hearing Australia is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in the country. It was established as a statutory authority under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. The organisation has over 180 permanent locations and hundreds of visiting sites across Australia, providing online and telehealth services as well.
To be eligible for subsidised hearing services from Hearing Australia, one must be an Australian resident or permanent resident and meet one of the following categories:
- Anyone under the age of 26
- Holders of Pensioner Concession Cards or their dependants
- Recipients of a sickness allowance from Centrelink, or their dependants
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Repatriation Health Card holders, or their dependants
- Department of Veterans' Affairs White Repatriation Health Card holders where hearing loss is specified, or their dependants
Hearing Australia's research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, is renowned worldwide for its research and innovations in hearing health. The division's research areas include hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation devices, and hearing rehabilitation procedures.
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Eligibility for subsidised hearing services
Hearing Australia is a statutory authority constituted under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. It is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in the country. Its research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, is known for its research in hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation devices, and hearing rehabilitation procedures.
To be eligible for subsidised hearing services from Hearing Australia, one must be an Australian resident or permanent resident and meet one of the following categories:
- Anyone under the age of 26 (before 1 January 2012, the eligibility age limit was 21)
- Holders of Pensioner Concession Cards, or their dependants
- Recipients of a sickness allowance from Centrelink, or their dependants
- Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Repatriation Health Card holders, or their dependants
- Department of Veterans' Affairs White Repatriation Health Card holders where hearing loss is specified, or their dependants
Hearing Australia's customers primarily comprise children, veterans, indigenous adults over 50, and pensioners. The company was originally set up in 1947 to help provide hearing services to children affected by a rubella epidemic and to World War II veterans who experienced hearing problems.
If you are not eligible for the free health care offered by the government body, you may still be eligible for discounted hearing care through the National Disability Scheme, rolled out in July 2015.
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Hearing Australia's customers
Hearing Australia is a government-funded hearing service provider that offers hearing healthcare under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. It was set up in 1947 to provide hearing services to children affected by the rubella epidemic and to help World War II veterans experiencing hearing problems.
Today, Hearing Australia's customers include children, veterans, indigenous adults over 50, and pensioners. The organisation provides services to eligible individuals, including children under 26, pensioners, veterans, adults with complex communication needs, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 50.
Hearing Australia has over 600 locations across the nation and is committed to helping Australians manage their hearing health. The organisation offers a range of hearing services, including testing, consultations, and dispensing hearing aids. These services are provided free of charge to those who qualify, with a small annual fee for device maintenance and batteries.
Hearing Australia also recognises the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land they work on and are committed to empowering and advancing the health, wellbeing, and self-determination of these communities. In 2022-23, they provided hearing services to more than 25,000 First Nations children and adults in urban, regional, and remote locations.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian Hearing is a statutory authority and government body constituted under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. It is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in Australia.
Australian Hearing provides hearing healthcare under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. This includes hearing testing, consultations about hearing loss, and dispensing hearing aids.
To be eligible for subsidised hearing services from Australian Hearing, one must be an Australian resident or permanent resident and meet certain criteria. These include being under the age of 26, holding a Pensioner Concession Card, or being a veteran.
