1997-1998
6.5: Hearing services
The 1997-1998 Portfolio Budget Statements, informs Senators and Members of Parliament of the proposed allocation of resources to portfolios outcomes and their objectives and targets including the agencies within the Health and Family Services portfolio.
Budget Measures
Objective
To reduce the consequences of hearing loss in the community by ensuring high quality, cost-effective hearing services are available to eligible clients.Priority outcomes
- Quality and efficient hearing service provision that meets the needs of eligible people.
- Access to appropriate hearing services for special needs groups (eg children, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people living in rural and remote communities).
- Improved hearing products and services.
Strategies
- Separate purchaser/provider functions in the delivery of the hearing services program.
- Purchase high quality, cost-effective hearing services.
- Enhance consumer choice and supplier competition by introducing a voucher system for hearing services.
- Enhance client service outcomes through the development of appropriate client service and quality assurance processes.
- Establish appropriate arrangements for special needs groups.
- Sponsor research and development programs focussed on enhancing hearing aid technology and audiological services.
- Undertake regulatory functions sensitively and objectively.
Performance indicators and targets
Effectiveness
Indicator | Target | Information source and reporting frequency |
Number of eligible clients supported by the Program (Priority Outcome 1; Strategy 2) | Maintain current levels of access | Office of Hearing Services and Australian Hearing Services consumer data bases Annual |
Ability of clients to manage their hearing loss (Priority Outcome 1; Strategy 4) | Establish baseline data and monitor in future years | Office of Hearing Services and Australian Hearing Services consumer data bases Annual |
Efficiency
Indicator | Target | Information source and reporting frequency |
Total cost per consumer (Priority Outcome 1; Strategy 1) | Establish baseline data and monitor in future years | Office of Hearing Services and Australian Hearing Services consumer data bases Annual |
Quality
Indicator | Target | Information source and reporting frequency |
Client satisfaction with services (Priority Outcome 1; Strategy 2) | Establish baseline data and monitor in future years | Structured feedback as measured by surveys and focus groups and consumer complaints Annual |
The development of a quality assurance model in consultation with industry (Priority Outcome 3; Strategy 4) | 30 June 1998 | Not applicable |
Mechanisms available to ensure a cost-effective research and development program is delivered (Priority Outcome 2; Strategy 6) | 31 March 1998 | Not applicable |
Equity
Indicator | Target | Information source and reporting frequency |
Standards of service and access for special needs groups (Priority Outcome 2; Strategy 5) | Maintain current standards and access | Office of Hearing Services and Australian Hearing Services consumer data bases Annual |
Performance assessment: evaluation
No major evaluations are planned for this Sub-program in 1997-98.How the program is resourced: reconciliation of appropriations to the program and summary of portfolio outlays (Excel 52 KB)
Variations to Program Outlays 1996-97 to 1997-98 (Excel 24 KB)
