Media Release by The Hon Dan Tehan MP

Improved support for hearing impaired

Australians with hearing impairment will receive improved support and faster access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) today announced five initiatives to improve the NDIS experience for people with hearing impairment after significant consultation with hearing providers and experts.

The new initiatives are:

  • Eligibility for access to the NDIS for individuals with hearing impairment has been clarified. This recognises the benefits of early intervention for participants under 25.
  • A revised pathway to speed up access for children aged 0 to 6 with a hearing loss. This will allow children to move quickly from diagnosis to early intervention and avoid developmental delay. The revised pathway has been developed in consultation with providers and other key stakeholders.
  • The NDIA has been working with providers to clear a list of children with hearing impairment currently awaiting access and planning decisions. Newborn children and people with a severe or profound hearing loss or auditory neuropathy have been escalated for urgent response.
  • Australian Hearing’s current in kind support to the NDIS will be extended until 30 June 2020. Australian Hearing plays a key role as an entry point for children with hearing impairment. It is also a critical provider of specialist information to parents to help them make informed choices about their children’s needs, particularly in relation to the use of a single or multiple experts.
  • Prices for the provision of hearing services will be revised.

The NDIS is working proactively with providers to understand how best to support their transition from block funding to an individualised funding model under the NDIS, where participants or their parents can exercise choice and control.

Efforts will be made to provide participants with greater levels of independent guidance and education to support plan implementation to ensure that the full benefits of expert advice are realised.