DVA / Veteran Information

If you are former ADF personnel we highly suggest you get in contact with an Advocate in town. At AIM hearing we work with Advocates from:

- RSL Sub Branch Drop-In Centre (Takalvan Street)

- RSL State Branch (Barolin/Burnett Street)

- Bundaberg Legacy (Williams Road)

- Defence Veterans Drop-In Centre (Formally Vietnam Veterans Association Drop-In Centre) cnr Pitt/May Street.

- We also work closely with Advocates from Hervey Bay, Gladstone, Agnes Waters and surrounds.

They are very experienced advocates and will start your journey where we will assist them by completing a basic hearing and Tinnitus assessment and if we believe that Hearing loss and/or Tinnitus needs to be put on your White Card as a specific condition we will write a letter with a report on your behalf to your GP to complete that needs to get to your advocate for processing. We highly encourage you to attend your GP's office to take that signed form by your GP and personally get the original to your advocate in person or by post ASAP.

Although once the GP signs the form you are technically PAMT approved but this is where the Canberra thing comes into play when it comes to Hearing which is a little different as we are dealing with 2 different Federal Govt Departments.

Unfortunately there is a bit of a Bureaucratic software glitch between the two Federal programs. Although you are being approved for Hearing loss and treatment by the DVA; the actual treatment is provided by the Federal Government's Dept of Health's Hearing Services Program (HSP) and unfortunately the two systems (DVA and HSP) do not talk to each other. We need to send that PAMT conformation report and letter to the HSP so they can create a  "DVA Hearing Voucher under the HSP" to receive the treatment you deserve.

So long story short... Once you get your form signed from the GP, get it to your Advocate ASAP for processing.  Please also let us know when you receive that letter from the DVA and we then can put you onto the Govt Portal with the Hearing Services Program (HSP) to create a voucher and get your rehabilitation journey started.

At AIM Hearing we like to cross all T's and dot all I's to make sure no-one slips through the cracks.

Similar but a much more quicker process to get over the line seeing you already have your White Card. Just come into AIM and the Staff can help you out on what to to and where to go.

DVA Hearing Aids can vary depending on the individual client:

As far as AIM Hearing is Concerned no veteran should have to put a cent out of your own pocket for hearing aids if you have Hearing Loss on your card as a specific condition.

Sometimes the basic Hearing aids are not a suitable option based on specific factors (e.g. A veteran that is still working in civilian life and needs higher technology hearing devices to hear in Background noise so they can keep their job as they cannot carry around an ALD; or a Veteran with significant hand dexterity issues who can no longer handle changing batteries on their hearing aids anymore and has no-one to assist with that task may need a rechargeable hearing aid.) 

Under these circumstances we can make an application to the DVA for additional funding for higher technology hearing aids or specific types (such as rechargeable Hearing Aids). This requires a detailed letter from a GP or other specialist requested by the DVA and to reiterate applying for these more expensive devices is simply an Application, it does not guarantee approval and it may not be approved by the DVA but we will certainly try.

The current generation Free DVA Hearing aids are significantly better than previous generations, where they have Bluetooth to connect to smart phones and other devices and most of the time hearing in more complex situations can be reduced by utilizing a Assisted Listening Device (ALD) can often significantly lower difficulty to hear in more complex situations; this is where we can apply for these ALD's under the DVA RAP Program.

The DVA has a program called the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP).  RAP helps eligible veterans, war widowed partners and dependants to live safely and independently .

Some Hearing related Assisted Listening Devices (ALD's) are available to Veterans under the scheme to make their hearing aids work better in specific environments such as Table or Partner Microphones to help hear better in background noise in social situations. Hear your Television at home better to assist with Tinnitus maskers to attempt to get you a better nights sleep.

The team at AIM Hearing Bundaberg are very competent with the program and make the applications on your behalf based on clinical justification and program guidelines.