Hearing is one of our primary senses that allows us to interact with and respond to our environment. Hearing loss impacts on our ability to communicate. Communication is fundamental for relationships, safety and overall quality of life. Older people, aged care workers and others may just accept that hearing loss is an inevitable part of ageing. Hearing loss is experienced by 75% of older people aged 70 and over. The incidence is higher in males. Decline in vision is one of the most predictable of the ageing related changes. However a number of conditions and diseases are preventable or treatable if detected early and treated. Vision impairment affects 50% of all Australians. It is regarded as one of the major causes of disability. Mental illness co morbidity is common. In response to the World Heath Organisation's resolution to eliminate avoidable blindness the Australian government responded with the Nation Eye Health Framework. The focus is to eliminate avoidable blindness and vision loss by prevention,through modification of risk factors and by providing access to effective treatments that can restore sight or stop further vision loss.