Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 7 November 2011:

In regard to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Better Start Program:

(1) Given large sections of Aboriginal communities experience widespread hearing loss, will there be a population based approach to hearing loss as a disability rather that an individual one, which can include many individuals who may not have supporting evidence of disability.

(2) Given that many Indigenous children experience fluctuating hearing loss and limited access to audiological services: (a) how will these needs be addressed by the Better Start Program; and (b) will health centre identification of a history of chronic ear disease be used as a qualification for support rather than audiograms.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The Better Start for Children with Disability Initiative is available to children with a moderate or greater permanent conductive hearing loss.

(2) (a) Children who are registered for Better Start are able to access a range of early intervention services including speech and language therapy. Eligible Indigenous children who live in outer-regional or remote areas would also qualify for a one-off payment of $2,000 to assist with the additional costs of accessing Better Start service providers.

(b) A letter from a health centre doctor diagnosing an eligible condition is sufficient for the purposes of Better Start registration.