Who is eligible for a Voucher?
The Office of Hearing Services issues hearing service vouchers to eligible people. To be eligible you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident 21 years of age or older and hold a:

• Pensioner Concession Card
• Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) Gold Repatriation Health Card
• DVA White Repatriation Health Card covering hearing loss
• be in receipt of Sickness Allowance from Centrelink.

Following people are also eligible:

• Dependants of a person in one of the above categories
• Members of the Australian Defence Forces
• Clients of the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service (CRS) Australia.

The Hearing Services Voucher
Your Hearing Services Voucher entitles you to obtain, free of charge:

• a hearing assessment
• hearing rehabilitation; and
• selection and fitting of hearing aids (if necessary).

In addition you may obtain maintenance of your hearing aid(s) and devices and a regular supply of batteries on payment of an annual service charge. You will also receive advice on how to make the best possible use of your aid(s), and how to manage your hearing loss.

‘Top -Up’ aids
Although your hearing services voucher entitles you to a free hearing aid if this is clinically necessary, you may choose to pay a contribution yourself in order to be fitted with an approved aid that is not on the free list.

Hearing aids available under these ‘Top-Up’ arrangements have additional features beyond those needed to provide a satisfactory rehabilitation outcome for your assessed needs. Your hearing services provider will be able to explain to you the benefits you might expect from the additional features that are available.

How to apply
You can obtain an application form from:

• your doctor, (your doctor will examine your ears before signing the form), or
• a hearing services provider who is contracted to the Office of Hearing Services (a list of hearing service providers can be obtained from the Office of Hearing Services), or
• the Office of Hearing Services by ringing 1800 500 726, or
• 1800 500 496 (for users of telephone typewriter equipment only), or
• connect directly to the application form below and print off.

Application Form for Hearing Services Voucher:  http://www.health.gov.au

Choosing your service provider
You may use the Hearing Services Voucher to obtain services from any accredited hearing services provider who has entered into a contract with the Office of Hearing Services.

A directory listing the names and addresses of contracted hearing service providers will be sent to you at the same time as your Hearing Services Voucher.

Please remember to take your Hearing Services Voucher with you when you visit your hearing services practitioner.

Where to find a Provider: http://www.health.gov.au

Further Information regarding the Office of Hearing Services Voucher System can be obtained by following the link: http://www.health.gov.au