Aid Audiometrist Society of PO Box 283, Blacktown NSW 2148 ABN: 69 237 839 727 T| 02 9671 4445 F| 02 9671 5938 Email| [email protected]

Committee Secretariat, Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport, PO Box 6021, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 23rd December, 2016.

Dear Committee Secretariat,

Re: Inquiry into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia

The Audiometrist Society of Australia (HAASA) a peak Practitioner Professional Body and a Commonwealth Approved Professional Body wish to take this opportunity to submit the following regarding the terms of reference determined by the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport inquiry into the hearing health and wellbeing of Australia.

HAASA was founded in 1961 to represent Audiometrists, it is the oldest professional body in the hearing industry which finds its roots in serving the hearing health needs of the returned service men and woman after WWII. Audiometrists undergo rigorous continuous professional educational development programs, agree to comply with a comprehensive code of conduct, and aspire to the highest ethics. They incorporate best practice principles and historically have assisted the Commonwealth of Australia in formulating policies and provide representation to industry. HAASA is an affiliate member of the Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) who works to represent the interests of the allied health professions sector, particularly to the Federal Government; and to provide a vehicle for liaison and discussion between the professions themselves. HAASA is a party to the ‘Statement of Intent’ (Close The Gap) between Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), Allied Health Professions Australia (AHPA) and its member organisations and affiliates.

Taking into consideration the significant percentage of Australians experiencing and the related social and economic impact of hearing impairment to the long term health and wellbeing of Australia, HAASA wish to present the following to the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport:

Page 1 of 2 In 2006 Hearing loss represented a real financial cost to Australia of $11.75 billion per annum or 1.4% of GDP according to a research study by Access Economics. Feb 15, 2006. No doubt 10 years on this figure is not any less. We are unaware of any Australian study that quantifies the impact of balance disorders.

Whilst HAASA considers the current Commonwealth Hearing Services Program a world class and an excellent tool to identify and deal with the (current causes of hearing loss), HAASA is unaware of any provision under that program to look into the causation or assessment of balance disorders. The current program has its limitation because it only service and pre-select particular demography of the society as it is not extended to the entire Australian society. HAASA understand that with the arrival of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) the situation will somewhat change however the preliminary indications shows that certain sectors of the Australian public such as self-funded retirees over 65 years may not be able to access services under the (NDIS). There are no clear procedures indications or criteria provided to the industry as yet on how the imminent changes in the hearing services under NDIS will be.

HAASA strongly agrees and recognises that there are significant compounding costs of hearing and balance disorders to the society, however the scope of this submission is probably not enough. HAASA would like to urge the Commonwealth to commission an independent study to analyse the cost of hearing loss and balance disorder to the society.

Almost 17% of the population or on average one in six Australians are affected by hearing loss or chronic ear disorders, with rates particularly high among some communities such as Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. The University of Melbourne hearing cooperative research centre states the following fact “Besides musculoskeletal disease, hearing loss is the second most common health condition experienced by Australians. It is more common than asthma, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The 2005 Listen Hear! Report provides more in-depth information about the prevalence of and economic impact of hearing loss in Australia”.

A national hearing awareness campaign to encourage Australians to take care of their hearing, to promote early detection and early treatment is highly encouraged by HAASA.

Yours sincerely,

The Hearing Aid Audiometrist Society of Australia (HAASA) Tony Khairy (HAASA-President)

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