Ruqayyah Snyder
Hearing Australia, previously known as Australian Hearing Services, is a Commonwealth Government statutory authority and the country's largest provider of government-funded hearing services. It was established under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991 and is currently a corporate Commonwealth entity subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). Hearing Australia has been providing expert hearing care to Australians of all ages since 1947, with a particular focus on children, young adults under 26, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, pensioners, and veterans. The organisation has over 180 locations across Australia and is renowned for its groundbreaking research and innovations in hearing health through its research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Entity | Corporate Commonwealth entity |
| Nature of Ownership | Government-owned corporation |
| Nature of Services | Hearing services |
| Nature of Clients | Children, young adults under 26, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, pensioners, and veterans |
| Number of Locations | 180+ |
| Number of Communities Visited | 280+ |
| Year of Inception | 1942/1947 |
| Parent Department | Department of Human Services |
| Research Division | National Acoustic Laboratories |
Explore related products
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 was renamed Hearing Australia, and it is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in Australia. Hearing Australia's research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, is renowned worldwide for its research and innovations in hearing health. Its research broadly focuses on hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation devices, and hearing rehabilitation procedures.
Hearing Australia provides hearing care to Australians of all ages and backgrounds. It has been operating for over 75 years, helping thousands of children, young adults, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pensioners, and veterans. It has over 180 locations across Australia and provides services to eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, anyone under the age of 26, pensioners, and veterans.
To be eligible for subsidised hearing services from Hearing Australia, one must be an Australian or permanent resident and meet certain criteria. These include being under the age of 26, holding a Pensioner Concession Card, receiving a sickness allowance, or being a veteran.
Hearing Australia is a government-owned corporation and competes with other hearing clinics to provide hearing services under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. This program provides access to subsidised hearing services and devices through vouchers to eligible persons, including pensioners, veterans, and Australian Defence Force personnel.
In 2018, Hearing Australia paid penalties for engaging in false or misleading conduct in connection with the supply of hearing services. The ACCC issued infringement notices, and Hearing Australia admitted that its conduct breached Australian Consumer Law.
MLB Shop: Shipping Down Under?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$22.84 $29.95
National Acoustic Laboratories
Australian Hearing Services, a statutory authority under the Commonwealth Government, was established by the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. The research division of Australian Hearing Services, known as the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), has been at the forefront of hearing health research and innovation.
NAL has a rich history, dating back to the Acoustic Research Laboratory established in 1942 to aid the Australian Military during World War II. Post-war, the laboratory focused on assisting children affected by rubella-induced hearing loss. The Commonwealth Department of Health took charge, renaming it the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories.
Today, NAL is widely recognised for its groundbreaking contributions to hearing health. Its research encompasses hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation devices, and rehabilitation procedures. NAL also collaborates with various organisations, including the Ear Science Institute Australia, to advance hearing health knowledge and solutions.
NAL's work extends beyond research, as they actively engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, acknowledging their role as Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land. NAL has developed resources, checklists, toolkits, and training options to address the unique hearing challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. These resources aim to support families, primary health professionals, and early childhood teachers in identifying and addressing hearing difficulties early on, thereby improving long-term outcomes in education, employment, and social participation.
The National Acoustic Laboratories, as the research arm of Hearing Australia, plays a pivotal role in advancing hearing health in Australia and beyond. Through their research, innovation, and community engagement, NAL helps ensure that Australians of all ages and backgrounds can access the hearing care they need.
Lucrative Nursing Careers in Australia: Your Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Australian Hearing Services Program
The Australian Hearing Services Program provides subsidised hearing services and devices to eligible Australians with hearing loss. The program is administered by the Department of Health, with around 300 providers accredited to offer hearing devices to voucher holders. Around 80% of hearing aids supplied in Australia are subsidised under this program.
Hearing Australia is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in the country and is the sole provider of the Community Service Obligation (CSO) Program, which is part of the Hearing Services Program. It was established as Australian Hearing Services, a Commonwealth Government statutory authority, under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. Hearing Australia's research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL), is renowned worldwide for its research and innovations in hearing health. The NAL evaluates the devices and features of the Hearing Services Program.
To be eligible for subsidised hearing services from Hearing Australia, individuals must be Australian or permanent residents, and meet certain criteria. These include being under 26 years old, holding a Pensioner Concession Card, receiving a sickness allowance, or being a Department of Veterans' Affairs cardholder.
The Hearing Services Program for Young Adults provides government-funded hearing services and devices to eligible young Australians under 26 who are citizens or permanent residents. This includes support for cochlear implant speech processors, with fully subsidised replacements and technology upgrades for those who meet the clinical criteria.
The Australian Government Hearing Services Program has been the subject of scrutiny, with Australian Hearing Services paying penalties for misleading conduct in connection with the supply of hearing services.
Thylacine: Tracking Tasmania's Elusive Marsupial Predator
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Eligibility for subsidised services
Australian Hearing Services, a statutory authority established under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991, offers subsidised hearing services to eligible individuals. To be eligible for subsidised hearing services, one must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or Norfolk Island resident and meet specific criteria.
The Hearing Services Program, administered by the Department of Health, provides subsidised hearing services and devices to eligible Australians with hearing loss. The program has two components: the voucher scheme and the Community Service Obligations (CSO).
Under the voucher scheme, eligibility requirements include being an Australian citizen or permanent resident, aged 21 or older, and holding a Pensioner Concession Card or being the spouse of a cardholder. Incarcerated individuals must have a valid voucher issued before their incarceration to be eligible.
The CSO component offers specialist hearing services to those with complex hearing or communication needs, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, participants in the Community Development Programme, and those who previously received hearing services from Hearing Australia.
Additionally, eligibility extends to individuals under the age of 26, holders of Pensioner Concession Cards or their dependants, recipients of a sickness allowance from Centrelink or their dependants, and Department of Veterans' Affairs Health Card holders or their dependants.
Hearing Australia, the largest provider of government-funded hearing services, caters to children, young adults up to the age of 26, eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pensioners, and veterans.
Kmart Australia: International Shipping Availability
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hearing Australia's services
Hearing Australia, previously known as Australian Hearing Services, is a Commonwealth Government statutory authority that provides hearing care to Australians of all ages and backgrounds. It is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in the country, with a particular focus on children under the age of 26, eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pensioners, and veterans.
The organisation has a long history, initially established as the Acoustic Research Laboratory during World War II to investigate noise for the Australian Military. After the war, the laboratory focused on helping children affected by rubella outbreaks and was renamed the Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories. Today, Hearing Australia continues to provide vital hearing services to Australians, with a commitment to making hearing care accessible and effective for all.
Ordering Australian Dollars: A Simple Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Australian Hearing Services, also known as Hearing Australia, is a statutory authority under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. It is a Commonwealth Government statutory authority and a corporate Commonwealth entity subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
Australian Hearing provides hearing services to Australians of all ages and backgrounds. It is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services for children, young adults under 26, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, pensioners, and veterans.
Australian Hearing was established in 1947, evolving from the Acoustic Research Laboratory set up in 1942. The Laboratory initially investigated noise for the Australian Military during World War II and later assisted children affected by rubella-induced hearing loss.
Eligibility criteria include being an Australian or permanent resident and meeting specific categories. These categories include being under 26, holding a Pensioner Concession Card, receiving a sickness allowance, or being a veteran with specified hearing loss.
