1999-2000
Better hearing services boost quality of life
The 1999-2000 Budget reinforces the Government's commitment to provide ready access to high quality hearing services for older Australians and others in this, the International Year of Older Persons, and beyond.
Fact sheet 1
Better hearing services boost quality of life
The 1999-2000 Budget reinforces the Government's commitment to provide ready access to high quality hearing services for older Australians and others in this, the International Year of Older Persons, and beyond. It builds on reforms to the delivery of hearing services announced in the 1996-97 Federal Budget. A subsidised hearing program is run by this Government for the benefit of pensioners, part-pensioners, eligible veterans, children and young adults under 21.
Additional funds of around $209 million over four years will be provided to ensure that demand for vouchers for hearing services is met in a timely way, and that contracted service providers can continue to provide quality services.
The ability to hear can make a profound difference to quality of life. The funding will allow an extra 67,000 adult Australians each year to participate more fully in family and community life by accessing quality hearing services that may otherwise have been unaffordable.
As part of this additional funding, $12 million has been provided over four years to ensure that high quality hearing services continue to be provided to around 40,000 children and young adults under age 21 each year.
Eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, eligible clients with complex needs, eligible clients in remote areas and children and young adults aged under 21 will continue to receive quality hearing services as a Community Service Obligation from Australian Hearing Services.
Total additional funds available over the next four years are as follows:
| 1999-2000 $m | 2000-2001 $m | 2001-2002 $m | 2002-2003 $m |
| 50.8 | 51.4 | 52.8 | 54.5 |
Other important changes to the Hearing Services Program will continue to ensure its efficiency:
- the maintenance charge paid by clients has been indexed in line with movements in the Consumer Price Index in recent years;
- a nominal charge on clients for replacing lost or damaged hearing aids has been introduced; and
- the use of Assistive Listening Devices, a cost-effective alternative to hearing aids in some circumstances, will be encouraged where appropriate.
Since November 1997 eligible clients - mostly pensioners and veterans - have received hearing services under a voucher system.
Under this system vouchers are issued to eligible clients, who choose from a range of some 125 accredited hearing service providers, including Australian Hearing Services, the Federal Government provider.
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Contact:
Peter DeGraaff , Assistant Secretary,
Office of Hearing Services, (02) 6289 9395
