If you are a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme your NDIS Planner may refer you to the Australian Government Hearing Services Program to receive certain hearing services and devices until mid-2019.
The program is administered by the Department of Health. The Department contracts approximately 280 service providers to deliver fully subsidised hearing services and devices to eligible clients.
More information about the program including what hearing services, supports and devices that might be available to you, can be found on the program’s website under About the Hearing Services Program
Identifying your hearing needs
If your NDIS Planner identifies that you need hearing services they may refer you to the program. Even if you already wear hearing aids or you have had your hearing loss previously investigated, you will still need to have your medical practitioner sign a medical certificate. The certificate will certify that there are no medical reasons to prevent a hearing device being fitted through the program.
Referral arrangements
Under 21 years of age
Your NDIS Planner will refer you directly to Australian Hearing – the Government’s sole provider of hearing services to children and young adults under the Hearing Services Program. Contact Australian Hearing to arrange an appointment to discuss the management of your hearing. Ensure you take the referral with you to this appointment. NDIS participants aged between 21 and 26 years of age can choose to receive their services from either Australian Hearing or through any other Hearing Services Program contracted service provider.
21 to 65 years of age
Your NDIS Planner will refer you to the program by completing the Hearing Services NDIS application form and emailing it to hearing@health.gov.au using their official NDIS email address; along with your completed medical certificate.
Once your NDIS Planner has submitted the Hearing Services NDIS application form and the medical certificate to the Department, you will be sent a welcome pack. After reading the pack you can make an appointment with one of the contracted service providers listed.
Will I have any out-of-pocket expenses?
The program has a full suite of fully subsidised services and devices to meet most clinical needs. However, you will need to pay a small contribution to the ongoing maintenance of your device.
If you are a DVA gold or white card holder, you are excluded from paying any maintenance costs as the Department of Veterans’ Affairs will pay this on your behalf.
Devices that are not fully subsidised through the program
If your contracted service provider believes a device from the partially subsidised listings would enable you to better meet your goals, your contracted service provider will need to send your NDIS Planner a request, with supporting clinical evidence, seeking authorisation from the NDIS to pay for the gap between the retail price and the program’s subsidised cost, and its ongoing maintenance.
If the payment for the device and its ongoing maintenance are not authorised by the NDIS, but you still wish to be fitted with it, you may choose to pay for the device yourself.
Your contracted service provider will be able to discuss these options with you in more detail.
Information for voucher program clients who have transitioned to NDIS
Can I still receive voucher services through the program if I have transitioned to the NDIS?
Yes. Once you have registered with the program and have been issued with a voucher number, you will be eligible to continue to receive voucher services for three years from the date of registration.
Does my NDIS Planner need to do anything?
Yes. For NDIS participants under 21 years of age, your NDIS Planner will give you a referral letter outlining that you are now registered as an NDIS participant.
For NDIS participants aged between 21 and 65 years of age, your NDIS Planner will need to complete the Hearing Services NDIS application form with you, as you must sign it. Your NDIS Planner will then need to email it to hearing@health.gov.au using their official NDIS email address.
Do I need to do anything?
Under 21 years of age
Yes. If you currently receive hearing services through Australian Hearing you will need to give your practitioner the referral letter that your NDIS Planner gives you.
21 to 65 years of age
Yes. Work with your NDIS Planner to complete the Hearing Services NDIS application form as you will need to sign this form.
Do I need a new medical certificate?
No, as you would have already submitted a medical certificate to the Department when you became a program client