The Australian Government will implement key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health, investing $21.2 million over five years.

Addressing a meeting of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance, Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton, said the Government’s investment reflects its ongoing commitment to improving access to hearing support services for vulnerable Australians.

“With more than 3.6 million Australians currently affected by hearing loss and that number expected to reach 7.8 million by 2060, it is vital we have the services and support that allow them to best live to their potential,” Minister Coulton said.

“That’s why the Government is investing in and reforming its hearing services to improve access and quality of services for all Australians.

“With numerous efforts already underway, including development of paediatric standards and increasing screening in remote areas, we announce the implementation of key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health.”

Minister Coulton said the announced Roadmap initiatives focused on making Australians well aware of the importance of hearing health and ensuring services reach those who need them, especially the vulnerable.

Roadmap initiatives announced in the Federal Budget are:

• $5 million hearing health awareness campaign
• $7.3 million for research to develop a sound evidence base for effective treatment, service delivery, and prevention of hearing loss
• $5 million for improvements in and early identification of hearing and speech difficulties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• $2 million for initiatives in the aged care sector to improve the capability of the aged care workforce to support people with hearing loss.
• $400,000 for development and adoption of new tele audiology standards for hearing services.
• $200,000 to support rural service delivery through a workforce audit and a rural hearing workforce summit.