Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

The government is a proud supporter of Hearing Awareness Week. This year's event runs from 24 to 30 August with numerous events to be held across Australia. Hearing Awareness Week is celebrated annually and is coordinated by the Deafness Forum of Australia. This year's theme is: 'How loud is too loud?' It is aimed at informing people of how much noise we are exposed to on a daily basis.

An estimated three and a half million Australians are affected by hearing loss to varying degrees, half of whom are working age. This figure is estimated to rise to one quarter of all Australians by 2050. Exposure to noise is a known cause of about one third of the cases of hearing loss, and it makes this year's theme a timely reminder towards prevention. Free information and screening sessions will be held around the country this week to build awareness of the signs and symptoms of hearing loss and the additional health implications. More information about the events being held around Australia can be found on the Hearing Awareness Week website.

While hearing loss cannot always be prevented, there are a range of treatment options available that have the potential to improve one's standard of living—in particular, hearing aids. Through the Department of Health we are providing eligible Australians with access to quality and affordable hearing services through the Hearing Services program. The Australian government will invest $424 million this year in the Hearing Services program. Since 1997 1,791,000 clients have registered with the voucher program—with 647,000 clients last year. The program aims to provide eligible Australians with access to hearing services and devices that help them to better manage their hearing loss and maximise their communication ability.