Hi Everyone,
As promised, we are always trying to bring you the latest updated information that may be relevant to your hair restoration and hair replacement needs.
A question that is often asked is “Does the government give subsidies for wigs?” The answer is Yes they do! But it's different from state to state.
The following information is hot off press! It is relevant for people in the Melbourne and the State of Victoria, Australia. I have yet to check what other wig subsidies are available in other states, but we will endeavour to find out.
RE: Wig subsidies – please read on:
The Aids and Equipment Program (A&EP) which previously supplied a wig subsidy to people with alopecia has been replaced. The new program is called the State Wide Equipment Program (SWEP).
SWEP is a program of grants funded by the Department of Human Services and administered by Ballarat Health Services. Ballarat Health Services was appointed as the state-wide administrator of the aids and equipment program in August 2010 following a competitive selection process. The State-wide equipment program provides people who have a permanent or long-term disability with subsidised aids, equipment and vehicle and home modifications.
The benefits available are
Two basic synthetic wigs (or equivalent contribution towards human hair wig, or more expensive synthetic wig up to the subsidy cost) $240 per 2 years
One human hair wig (child 16 years and under) $600 per wig
You will need to fill in an application form and have a letter from your GP to say that you are have permanent loss of hair as a result of disease or disability.
If you have previously used the A&EP, your records will be transferred to SWEP automatically and the procedure to obtain the subsidy remains the same.
You can download an application form from the SWEP website
http://swep.bhs.org.au/
Contact Information for SWEP
Hours of Operation 8.30am to 5.00pm – Monday to Friday
Telephone 1300 747 937 or 03 5333 8100
Fax 03 5333 8111
Postal Address PO Box 577 Ballarat Vic 3353
There are 6 municipal areas and groups of Issuing Centres
Group 1.
Council Areas:
Ararat, Ballarat, Colac Otways, Corangamite, Geelong, Glenelg, Golden Plains,
Grampians, Grampians (Southern), Greater Queenscliff, Hepburn, Hindmarsh,
Horsham, Moorabool, Moyne, Northern Surf Coast, Pyrenees, Warrambool, West
Wimmera and Yarriambiack.
Issuing Centres:
Ballarat Health Services, · Barwon Health, South West Health Care, · Western District
Health Service, · Wimmera Health Care Group
Group 2.
Council Areas:
Alpine, Baw Baw, Bass Coast, Buloke, Campaspe (North), Campaspe (South), Central
Goldfields, East Gippsland, French Island, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Greater
Shepparton, Indigo, Latrobe, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Delatite,Mildura, Mitchell,
Moira, Mt Alexander,Murrindindi, Rural City of Wangaratta, South Gippsland,
Strathbogie, Swan Hill, Towonga, Wellington and Wodonga
Issuing Centres:
· Bairnsdale Regional Health Service Bass Coast Regional Health · Bendigo Health
Care Group · Gippsland Southern Health Service · Goulburn Valley Health · Northeast
Health Wangarrata · Sunraysia Community Health Services · Swan Hill District Health ·
(Albury) Wodonga Health
Group 3
Council Areas:
Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash. Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges.
Issuing Centres: ·
Eastern Health – Box Hill Hospital · Eastern Health – Maroondah Hospital · Southern
Health – Monash Medical Centre
Group 4.
Council Areas:
Bayside, Cardina, Casey (East), Casey (West), Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater
Dandenong, Kingston, Kingston (Chelsea), Mornington Peninsula, Port Phillip and
Stonnington.
Issuing Centres:
· Alfred Health – Caulfield Hospital · Peninsula Health – Mount Eliza Centre · Southern
Health – Dandenong Hospital
Group 5.
Council Areas:
Banyule, Boroondara, Darebin (North), Darebin (South), Hume, Melbourne, Moreland,
Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra.
Issuing Centres:
· Austin Health – Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital · St Vincent's Hospital · Melbourne
Health – Royal Park Campus · Northern Hospital
Group 6.
Council Areas:
(Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton,
Moonee Valley and Wyndham.)
Issuing Centres:
· Western Health – Sunshine Hospital · Royal Children's Hospital (Statewide)
I hope you find this information helpful.
