The National Disability Insurance Scheme (also called the NDIS) provides support for Australians with significant disability that impacts their everyday life, their families and carers.

The NDIS funds a range of supports including assistive technology, Auslan services and early intervention programs. For more information, please visit the NDIS website.

The HSP provides a suite of hearing services and supports to eligible clients to assist with hearing loss including:

• Hearing assessments and annual reviews
• Strategies to help manage your hearing loss in different environments
• Fitting and follow up services including a fully subsidised device, or a subsidy towards a partially subsidised device
• Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) such as streaming devices or Bluetooth enabled hearing devices 
• Repairs and maintenance of your hearing device including batteries and ear moulds 

All requests for NDIS funded supports are considered on an individual basis and may be funded under the NDIS where the support is considered reasonable and necessary.  The provision of Assistive Technology not provided through the HSP would be one example of supports considered for funding by the NDIS.

The NDIS provides eligible Hearing Australia clients with the ability to receive additional supports that are not available through Hearing Australia.  

Hearing Australia is a registered provider under the NDIS and if you’re a current Hearing Australia client, you will continue to receive the same level of hearing services regardless of whether or not you are an NDIS participant. 

 

For children and young adults under 26 years of age who are eligible for the specialist hearing services through the Hearing Services Program (HSP)

You will continue to receive government funded hearing services through Hearing Australia beyond 1 July 2020. 

This means that you will continue to receive the same level of care and support you currently receive through Hearing Australia from 1 July 2020. 

This includes:

• Fully government subsidised hearing devices and ongoing audiological services 
• Upgraded and replacement speech processors for cochlear implantable devices 
• Repairs and maintenance for your devices
• Ongoing services and support to assist your (or your family member’s) hearing loss

If you are also eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), you may be able to receive funding for additional reasonable and necessary supports that are not available through Hearing Australia. For example, specialist early intervention services, Auslan services, programs that help young people to improve their participation in education, work or social activities and some assistive technology such as alerting systems. Further information is available on the NDIS website.

If you already have an NDIS plan, the only change you may notice is that it will no longer include funding for hearing aids or hearing services, as these will be provided through the HSP by Hearing Australia. You will still have access to any other funds that were provided for supports that are not covered by Hearing Australia.

For Australians aged 26 to 64 years of age who are eligible for specialist hearing services through the Hearing Services Community Service Obligations (CSO) Program 

You will continue to receive government funded hearing services from Hearing Australia beyond 1 July 2020. 

This means you will be able to continue to receive the same level of care and support you currently receive through Hearing Australia from 1 July 2020. 

This includes:

• Fully government subsidised hearing devices (excluding cochlear implant speech processors) 

• Communication training

• Ongoing services and support to assist your (or your family member’s) hearing loss

If you are also eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), you may be able to receive funding for additional reasonable and necessary supports that are not available through Hearing Australia. For example, this may include alerting devices and programs that help adults improve their social skills and work participation. NDIS planners and Local Area Coordinators work with NDIS participants to develop individual plans that provide funding for the right supports and services for each participant. Further information is available on the NDIS website.

If you already have an NDIS plan, it will no longer include funding for hearing aids or hearing services, as these will be provided through the Hearing Services Program by Hearing Australia. You will still have access to any other funds that were provided for supports and services that are not covered by Hearing Australia.

For Australians aged 26 to 64 years of age who are eligible for the Hearing Services Voucher Program  

You can continue to receive government funded hearing services through Hearing Australia beyond 1 July 2020. 

This means that you will be able to continue to receive the same level of care and support you currently receive through Hearing Australia from 1 July 2020.  

This includes:

• Fully government subsidised hearing devices (excluding cochlear implant speech processors)
• Ongoing services and support to assist your (or your family member’s) hearing loss

If you are also eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), you may be able to receive funding for additional reasonable and necessary supports that are not available through Hearing Australia. For example, this may include alerting devices and programs that help adults improve their social skills and work participation. NDIS planners and Local Area Coordinators work with NDIS participants to develop individual plans that provide funding for the right supports and services for each participant. Further information is available on the NDIS website.

If you already have an NDIS plan, it will no longer include funding for hearing aids or hearing services, as these will be provided through the Hearing Services Program by Hearing Australia. You will still have access to any other funds that were provided for supports and services that are not covered by Hearing Australia.

For NDIS participants who already have an NDIS plan and who are not eligible for the Hearing Services Program (HSP) after 1 July 2020

Your hearing services will be funded through both the Hearing Services Program (HSP) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from 1 July 2020. If you have a current HSP voucher, it will remain valid until your next NDIS Plan review at which time you can discuss your support options with your Planner. If you are Cochlear Implant user - once your voucher has expired, you will need to access all maintenance and support services for your cochlear implant from your implant clinic. 

Since Hearing Australia is both a HSP provider and a registered NDIS provider,
if you are a hearing aid user in one or both ears you have the option to continue to receive the same level of care and support from us, funded through the HSP or your NDIS plan. 

This includes:

• Reasonable and necessary hearing services and devices

• Maintenance of your hearing devices and the cost of batteries

You may be able to receive funding for additional disability related supports that are not covered under the HSP such as alerting devices. NDIS planners and Local Area Coordinators work with NDIS participants to develop individual plans that provide funding for the right supports and services for each participant. Further information is available on the NDIS website.

You can learn more about the NDIS at www.ndis.gov.au, by calling the NDIS call centre on 1800 800 110 or visit the NDIS office in your local community.