The Department of Health is developing key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health with the aim of improving access to hearing support services for needy Australians.
Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton said with more than 3.6 million Australians currently affected by hearing loss and the number expected to reach 7.8 million by 2060, it was crucial to have the services and support that allowed them to live to their potential.
He said hearing services were being reformed to improve their access and quality.
Mr Coulton said the Roadmap initiatives focused on making the public aware of the importance of hearing health and ensuring services reached those who needed them.
“Targeted activities to improve outcomes for Indigenous children and efforts to upskill the aged care workforce will see better outcomes for some of those most in need,” Mr Coulton said.
“Regional Australians will be pleased to hear about specific measures to ensure their access to services continues and improves with funding for a rural workforce audit and summit and implementation of new tele-audiology standards.”
He announced a $5 million plan for an awareness campaign to help break down the stigmas that surrounded hearing loss and to encourage more Australians to get their hearing checked.
