The Office of Hearing engaged AHA to identify and work with an Audiology Expert Advisory Group (AERG) to support the development and production a set of national practice standards for audiology.

The intention is that the national practice standards will:

• Be applicable to all professions involved in hearing services in Australia
• Encompass all client populations and all practitioner types
• Be up-to-date, evidence-based and relevant to the needs of all key stakeholders in the hearing services sector, including clients, practitioners, families, carers and funders
• Be endorsed and owned by the hearing sector
• Be measurable by third parties, if required.

The overarching aim of the standards is to reflect nationally agreed practice expectations of those working within the hearing industry.

AHA’s role in the development of the practice standards included:

• Review of a range of existing relevant standards, frameworks and guidelines
• Consideration of the scope and overarching themes of the practice standards
• Identification of other stakeholders (including expert advisors) to be consulted in the development of the practice standards
• Review of drafts of the practice standards and provision of written feedback.