Healthy hearing keeps you connected
When you can’t hear well, you miss out on things like:
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yarns with family and friends
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important news at work or from your health worker
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the referee’s call at the footy.
But you don’t have to miss out because help for hearing loss is available.
Free hearing checks
Hearing checks are free through Hearing Australia, under the Community Service Obligations (CSO) component of the Hearing Services Program. You are eligible for CSO if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident or live on Norfolk Island, and you are either:
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aged under 26 years
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Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and either:
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aged 50 years or over
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take part in the Community Development Program.
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For more information see the Hearing Services Program.
In First Nations communities, children have much higher rates of middle ear infection compared to other children. If left untreated, this can cause hearing loss.
Healthy ears and healthy hearing help people to:
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connect with language and culture
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help kids learn at school
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increase job opportunities.
Read more about policies and programs aimed to prevent, treat and monitor ear disease in First Nations people.
Care for Kids' Ears
In children, unaddressed disease like otitis media can cause hearing loss.
Care for Kids' Ears helps parents, carers, teachers, teachers’ aides, early childhood workers and health professionals recognise and prevent ear disease in First Nations children.