Transferring Your Hearing Services Program Provider to AIM Hearing Bundaberg
Many pensioners believe they cannot change their Hearing Services Program provider, or that they must wait until their Battery and Maintenance entitlement expires before moving to another clinic. Neither is correct. Under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program you have the right to choose your provider, and to transfer to a different one at any time.
If you would prefer independent, personalised hearing care at AIM Hearing Bundaberg, the transfer process is straightforward and fully managed at our end. There is no need for an uncomfortable conversation with your current provider, and there is no cost to you.
How the transfer works
The transfer involves three steps. Only the first two require anything from you.
Step 1: Visit us with your concession card
Bring your Pensioner Concession Card or DVA card to our clinic at Shop 1/1 Heidke Street, Avoca. Our reception team checks your eligibility through the official Hearing Services Program online portal and confirms your status within minutes. If you are newly enrolled in the program, Hearing Australia will have sent you a welcome pack outlining your benefits.
Step 2: Complete a short transfer form
You complete a single transfer form nominating AIM Hearing as your provider. This is the only paperwork involved.
Step 3: We manage the rest
We contact the Hearing Services Program on your behalf to arrange the transfer. Your clinical records, service history, and the remaining balance of your Battery and Maintenance entitlement transfer across to our clinic. Nothing is lost, and nothing restarts.
What transferring costs you
Nothing. Transferring provider under the Hearing Services Program does not carry a fee and does not reduce or reset your entitlements.
You keep the hearing aids you have already been fitted with, and we service and maintain them here. The remaining balance of your Battery and Maintenance entitlement follows you rather than starting again, so if you have months left on your current cycle, those months come with you.
Transferring also does not lock you in. If your circumstances change, you are free to transfer again through the same process.
Why clients transfer to AIM Hearing
AIM Hearing is Bundaberg’s longest-running 100% locally owned and independent hearing clinic. We are not part of a national chain, which means our clinicians work without head office device targets or sales quotas.
The practical difference is time. Our clinicians see five to six clients a day rather than fifteen, which allows us to properly understand the listening difficulties you are experiencing before discussing any solution. Sometimes the answer is hearing aids. Sometimes it is ear wax removal, an assistive listening device for television, or a referral. We explain your results in clear language and outline your options without pressure.
We are located in Avoca and see clients from across the Bundaberg region, generally within around 80 km of central Bundaberg.
Common questions about transferring
Do I have to wait until my Battery and Maintenance entitlement expires?
No. This is the most common misunderstanding about the program. You can transfer provider at any point in your cycle. You do not need to wait for a renewal date.
Will I lose my current hearing aids if I transfer?
No. The hearing aids you have been fitted with remain yours, and AIM Hearing will service and maintain them.
What happens to my hearing test results and clinical history?
Your clinical records and service history transfer across as part of the process, so your clinician can see your full history rather than beginning from a blank file.
Do I need to tell my current provider that I am leaving?
No. The transfer is arranged through the Hearing Services Program, not between the two clinics, so you do not need to have that conversation unless you wish to.
Do I need a referral from my GP to transfer?
No referral is required. Bring your Pensioner Concession Card or DVA card and we can confirm your eligibility on the spot.
I am a DVA client — does this process apply to me?
DVA hearing services operate differently to the Hearing Services Program. Please call us on 07 4153 1317 and we will explain how transferring applies to your circumstances, or see our DVA Hearing Services page.
Arrange your transfer
To check your eligibility or arrange a transfer, call AIM Hearing Bundaberg on 07 4153 1317, or visit us at Shop 1/1 Heidke Street, Avoca, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.