News and Articles
Helping more Australians stay connected through better hearing
2026-09-21
At Hearing Australia, we're committed to helping people access the hearing technology they need to stay connected with family, friends and their communities. While government-funded programs such as the Hearing Services Program (HSP) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) support many Australians to access hearing technology, some people with cochlear implants face significant cost barriers to accessing new sound processor technology.
Through our Social Purpose Program, we're proud to support eligible HSP participants who are not eligible for a program that provides financial assistance to upgrade their obsolete technology, at no cost to them. Hearing Australia reinvests profit from our commercial operations into the Social Purpose Program to ensure vulnerable Australians do not miss out essential hearing healthcare.
In the 2025–2026 financial year, the Social Purpose Program supported 72 eligible clients who had been using obsolete sound processors to upgrade to new technology. For many recipients, access to an upgraded sound processor has helped them hear more effectively, communicate with greater confidence and remain connected to the people and activities that matter most.
Christopher, a client who received a sound processor upgrade through the Program, says,
Upgrading to my new cochlear implant processor has made a remarkable difference to my daily life. I can now follow the radio and TV more clearly, enjoy conversations with my neighbours and, most importantly, communicate more easily with my wife.
The initiative has been delivered in collaboration with implant clinics across Australia and technology partner MED-EL, helping ensure eligible clients can access support when it’s needed most.
MED-EL Australasia Managing Director Robyn Shakes, said that Hearing Australia’s Social Purpose Program is helping people experience the benefits of modern hearing technology.
We’re privileged to support an initiative that’s making a meaningful difference in the lives of Australians who would otherwise have been left behind
Hearing Australia’s Social Purpose Program helps people access appropriate hearing technology to support greater independence, confidence and participation in everyday life, improving their overall quality of life.