Hearing Aid Bank

In November 1988, Hearing Matters Australia and Macquarie University in Sydney established a Hearing Aid Bank to help low-income people access hearing devices.

HMA collects donated hearing devices and sends these devices to the Macquarie University Hearing and Speech Clinic (SHC) Macquarie University, where they are tested and held in the Bank for subsequent issue to people at a minimal cost.

This program assists those who meet eligibility criteria set by HMA.

Who is eligible? 

• If you are NOT eligible for any other government funded supports or programs i.e. Hearing Services Program, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) - Check your eligibility here 
• You hold a current Centrelink Health Card, or 
• You have a low income (below $50k per year) or no income, or 
• You are a refugee or Asylum seeker, or 
• You are a non-resident in Australia whose visa prevents you from working in Australia and you cannot fund the cost of a hearing aid 

If you are eligible, here are the required documents:  

• Provide evidence of the above-mentioned 
• Provide a copy of your recent audiogram (within 6 months) obtained from an audiologist
• Have a referral letter from a medical practitioner certifying you can be fitted with hearing aids 
• Complete the HMA Hearing Aid Bank Application Form
• Be able to attend three appointments in Sydney area, once for a hearing test and twice for the fitting of the hearing aid(s) and follow-up 

If you are eligible, here is the cost:  

• HAB application fee: $45 (this fee also covers your one-year HMA membership fee) 
• Hearing Assessment fee: $80 if required by audiologist at SHC
• Hearing aid(s) fitting fee: $320 for one hearing aid; $420 for two hearing aids

Need financial assistance? 

HMA sources and offers financial assistance for eligible applicants who are experiencing financial hardship and can't afford the hearing aid(s) fitting fee.  If you require financial assistance, please refer to our HAB Application Form with financial assistance below, and contact our office for more information.

How to apply?

Please read HMA HAB program Information Sheet, click here. 
For independent application, refer to HAB Application Form_independent application, click here. 
For application with financial assistance, refer to HAB Application Form_financial assistance, click here. 
Use the HAB program Information Sheet and the Application Form Application Form to prepare and submit your application, in scanned copy by email or in paper copy by post to our office:

Hearing Matters Australia HAB Program
Ground Floor Suite 650, The Australian Hearing Hub,
16 University Ave, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109

Email : admin@hearingmattersaustralia.org
Call/SMS: 0477 785 525 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am to 4pm) 

What can you do to support Hearing Aid Bank? 

•  Donating hearing aids
  Please consider mailing functional hearing aids (only Behind-The-Ear type and Receiver-In-Canal type) that are no more than five years old to our office address (shown above). 
   
•  For lawyers or Executors of a will
  Hearing aids can be donated to the Hearing Matters Australia Hearing Aid Bank as part of a will.
   
•  For Audiologists
  Please consider sending donations of functional hearing aids that are no more than five years to HMA.
  Contact HMA to participate in the scheme by providing clinical services to those eligible for the Hearing Aid Bank.
   
•  Sponsoring HAB applications
  Your $500 donation will fully sponsor one applicant to receive a full hearing assessment and be fitted with two refurbished hearing aids
  $320 will sponsor an applicant to be fitted with one hearing aid as needed
  $80 will sponsor an applicant to get a full hearing assessment done
  $45 will sponsor an HAB recipient to get one more year HMA membership benefits
  $30 will sponsor us printing 50 HAB program flyers
  $5 will shout a hearing bank story-teller a coffee
  
  Secure Link to DONATE 

Note: 
HMA is running this HAB program in NSW.  
Most states and territories have hearing aid banks that provide reconditioned hearing devices. Hearing aid banks have their own eligibility criteria, but usually they provide hearing aids to people who:

• don’t qualify for the program
• can’t afford a hearing aid.

To find out where is your nearest hearing aid bank in other states in Australia, here is the link: 
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/hearing-services-program/accessing/eligibility#other-hearing-support-options