The long run from Winton to Longreach
The closest place to have hearing aids fitted from Winton is the CQ Audiology visiting clinic in Longreach, held at North & West Queensland Primary Health Services, 19 Duck Street, Longreach QLD 4730. It is roughly 177 kilometres south-east on the sealed Landsborough Highway, a little under two hours each way. CQ Audiology has no clinic or office in Winton, and the main rooms are in Rockhampton, about 750 kilometres east.
Visiting-clinic days vary by location. Please call (07) 4848 6528 to confirm the next available clinic in Longreach before travelling.
For devices and care at that clinic, see our hearing aids Longreach page. The audiologist Winton page explains the appointment itself.
Questions to settle before you drive
At nearly two hours each way, a few decisions are worth making in advance. They also help the audiologist set the aids up for your life.
- Station work. Bikes, vehicles, pumps and generators are loud. Hearing aids are not hearing protection, so ask what to wear during the work. Custom earplugs are made from impressions of your own ears.
- Crowds and amplified sound. Events with crowds and amplified sound make speech harder to follow. Describe where speech gets lost.
- Calls on a rural line. Phone calls can be demanding. Ask about connecting hearing aids to your phone.
- Heat, dust and batteries. Think about whether rechargeable or replaceable batteries suit a long day away from power, and ask how to care for the aids in dust and heat.
Winton to Longreach: how the stages fit together
At nearly two hours each way, a plan matters more than it does in town. No fixed schedule applies.
1. Stage one, the assessment. Talk through your hearing, have testing, hear the results and, if hearing aids are worth considering, discuss what the options involve.
2. Stage two, the fit. Devices are programmed and checked for comfort, and you learn to clean, charge and handle them.
3. Stage three, the tune-up. After wearing them through a normal week, return so the programming can be refined. Note what was still hard.
Ask reception what is possible if you want trips combined with other business in Longreach, so a single day does more work.
Longreach or Rockhampton from Winton
- Longreach visiting clinic: about 177 km, a little under two hours on the sealed Landsborough Highway. Dates change, so confirm first.
- Rockhampton rooms: about 750 km east. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 12pm at T33 & 34A, City Centre Plaza, 24 Fitzroy Street. Earwax removal by microsuction is offered there.
- Phone: call reception on (07) 4848 6528 to ask whether a visit is needed. Hands-on attention is booked into a coming Longreach clinic or the Rockhampton rooms.
Paying for hearing aids
Please ask about costs when you book so there are no surprises. Eligible pensioner concession card and DVA card holders may access services under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program; eligibility criteria apply. Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. The Hearing Services Program page sets out the pathway and the hearing aid solutions hub describes device types.
Questions Winton residents ask
Can I handle every step by phone?
No. Testing and fitting are in person. Phone calls cannot replace them, but you can call (07) 4848 6528 to ask whether a visit is needed.
What should I pack for the trip?
Your current hearing aids, chargers, spare batteries and a note of the situations that are hardest.
Could I stay overnight?
Some people plan an overnight stay on a long trip. Reception can help you choose a clinic time that suits your plans.
What if my hearing changes suddenly?
See your GP or an emergency department the same day. Do not wait for a clinic.
Book from Winton
Call (07) 4848 6528 and say you are travelling from Winton. Reception can confirm the next Longreach clinic and book a time.
This page is general information, not personal medical advice.