OHS

The OHS is responsible for:

• administering the hearing services scheme
  
• development and monitoring of standards for clinical services
  
• providing support to clients, practitioners and providers
  
• coordination of quality assurance measures
  
• providing advice on policy and strategy for provision of hearing services.

In terms of the administration of the scheme, the OHS manages a range of administrative/regulatory processes including:

• assessment of client applications for hearing services and provision of vouchers to eligible clients
  
• accreditation of hearing services providers
  
• registration of device suppliers
  
• contracting with service providers
  
• entering a Deed with device suppliers and approving devices for inclusion on the device schedule of the Deed
  
• monitoring compliance with the regulation
  
• taking action where non-compliance is identified.

The average number of OHS staff in 2010-11 was 64. OHS staff work in offices in Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne.

In 2011-12²

• In 2010-11 The 2010-11 financial year has been used for all data referenced in this Report.:

• 308,195 applications for vouchers were processed by the OHS, with 303,989 vouchers issued
  
• 599,581 clients received hearing services
  
• 140,841 clients were fitted with a device
  
• voucher services were provided by 215 service providers contracted by the OHS
  
• 1660 qualified, student and provisional practitioners (audiologists and audiometrists) were registered with the OHS to provide services on behalf of contracted service providers
  
• $310.3 million was paid to contracted service providers
  
• 1,111,153 service items were claimed by service providers.

^{2 The 2010-11 financial year has been used for all data referenced in this Report.}