Hearing Services Program
Wangaratta Audiology is a contracted provider under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, serving North East Victoria.
Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
Hearing services at no cost to eligible clients
Pensioners and eligible Department of Veterans’ Affairs clients can access hearing services through the voucher scheme delivered nationally under the Hearing Services Program.
Eligible people are issued a voucher once their application has been processed. You can apply yourself, or we can help you apply – see How do I apply? below.
Services available through the voucher scheme include a comprehensive hearing assessment, discussion of communication strategies, access to fully subsidised hearing aids from leading manufacturers where appropriate, help learning to use your hearing aids, and an optional ongoing annual maintenance program (a small annual fee applies).
People fitted with hearing aids under the program for the first time can also access a Rehabilitation Plus program to help them get the most from their hearing aids during the first year. Your voucher is valid for five years, and a return voucher can be issued after that if you are still eligible.
Through the program, eligible clients can access a range of fully subsidised hearing aids at no cost for the hearing aids or the services to fit them. These are quality hearing aids from leading manufacturers that meet the program’s standards and suit the hearing needs of most clients.
Some clients choose to “top up” to a partially subsidised hearing aid for additional features, such as rechargeable batteries, Bluetooth streaming from a phone or TV, or more advanced automatic noise management, paying the difference above the government subsidy. This is always your choice, and there is no obligation to upgrade. Some of these features are explained in our hearing aids section.
These features can be helpful for clients who are regularly involved in meetings, social occasions or family events. People living in residential aged care may also benefit from automatic features, as they often move between a quiet room and a noisier dining room several times a day.
For more information, visit the Hearing Services Program website, or come into the clinic and we can help with your questions.
Am I eligible for subsidised hearing services?
You are eligible for the voucher scheme if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 21 years or older and you are:
- a Pensioner Concession Card holder;
- a Veteran Gold Card holder;
- a Veteran White Card holder, where the card covers hearing-related conditions;
- the spouse or de facto partner of a person in one of the above categories;
- a current serving member of the Australian Defence Force; or
- referred by an Inclusive Employment Australia provider (formerly Disability Employment Services).
A Commonwealth Seniors Health Card does not make you eligible. You can check whether you are eligible using the program’s online eligibility checker.
Some people are also eligible for the program’s Community Service Obligations (CSO) component, delivered by Hearing Australia, including people under 26 and some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you are eligible for both the voucher scheme and CSO, you can choose which to use. See the program’s eligibility page for details.
If you are a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participant and eligible for the program, your hearing support comes through the Hearing Services Program rather than the NDIS. Your NDIS plan may cover extra supports the program doesn’t provide, such as complementary technology or the cost of your maintenance agreement.
Not everyone is eligible for the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. If you are not eligible, we can talk you through your options for private hearing aids, including trying hearing aids before you decide.
How do I apply?
You can apply for the Australian Government Hearing Services Program online. In most cases the online application takes only a few minutes, and you will be told whether you are eligible once you submit it. If you are eligible, you will be sent a welcome pack.
If you are unable to apply online, you can:
- visit a hearing services provider, such as Wangaratta Audiology, who can help you apply; or
- phone the program on 1800 500 726 or email hearing@health.gov.au to have an application form emailed or posted to you.
If anything during your hearing assessment means you should see a doctor first, we will refer you before any hearing aid is fitted. This is only needed where it is clinically appropriate.
For paper applications, please complete all the required sections of the form, sign it, and bring it to us or post it to:
Hearing Services Program
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Mail Drop Point 113
GPO Box 9848
Canberra ACT 2601
Paper applications may take three to four weeks to process, and any missing information may cause further delays.