The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group was established by the National Board of the Optometrists Association in 2008. The Group was formed to provide expert policy advice to the National Board in relation to provision of eye care services to Indigenous communities.
Membership of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group includes:
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Gary Crerie (WA) Convenor
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Mitchell Anjou (VIC)
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Rowan Churchill (QLD)
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David Welch (SA)
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Tricia Keys (NSW)
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Anne Lamond (QLD)
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Professor Brian Layland OAM (NSW)
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Anna Morse (NT)
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Dr Genevieve Napper PhD (VIC)
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Daryl Guest (TAS)
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Helen Summers (NT)
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Nina Tahhan (NSW)
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Andrew Harris (VIC)
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Shannon Peckham (QLD)
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Corresponding Member: Jenna Owen (NSW)
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Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group
Priorities for the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders's eye health is poorer than non-Indigenous Australians. One study suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have ten times the level of blindness from preventable eye disease than non‑Indigenous Australians (Layland et al, 2004).
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are located in rural and remote areas of Australia. Often these areas do not have enough patients to sustain a full time optometric practice. As a result the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) was established in 1975 by the Australian Government to assist optometrists by providing a 'fly in, fly out' service. More information about the VOS.
The priorities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group are to:
- provide a forum for members to collaborate in developing sustainable models of eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
- provide an experts group to inform the Association in relation to the eye care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders;
- provide a vehicle for advocacy for adequate funding and programs to facilitate sustainable eye care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; and
- increase the awareness of the need for good eye care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Establishment of the Indigenous Allied Health Association
A new peak national body to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health professionals and students, was established in July 2010. More information.
New Guidelines
The provision of Sustainable eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
(74kb)
Training to up-skill primary health care staff
International Centre for Eyecare Education Limited (ICEE) has recently developed resources on a series of eye topics, designed to be used by visiting optometrists to provide in-service style training to up-skill primary health care staff in the following: Measuring and recording vision, Cataracts, Diabetic eye disease, Differential diagnosis of red eye and Eye injuries and emergencies.
This training has been delivered to a number of locations (Aboriginal Medical Services and remote Community Health Centres) across the NT, in conjunction with ICEE's outreach optometry program. It aims to build local capacity for improved primary eye care, includingi better early detection and stronger referral pathways. Visit here for more information about the project, funded by a Rural Health Continuing Education, Round 2 (RHCE2) Grant through the Department of Health and Ageing.
In order to equip and resources other optometrists who provide visiting services to deliver in-service training, PDF versions of the training resources (student handbook, power point presentation, teacher's guide and activity sheets) can be provided. Please contact Amy Nicholls at ICEE if you would like to have a copy sent to you and don't forget to indicate which topic(s) you require. Email: a.nicholls@icee.org or call (08) 8942 5444
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group was established by the National Board of the Optometrists Association in 2008. The Group was formed to provide expert policy advice to the National Board in relation to provision of eye care services to Indigenous communities.
Membership of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group includes:
|
Gary Crerie (WA) Convenor
|
Mitchell Anjou (VIC)
|
|
Rowan Churchill (QLD)
|
David Welch (SA)
|
|
Tricia Keys (NSW)
|
Anne Lamond (QLD)
|
|
Professor Brian Layland OAM (NSW)
|
Anna Morse (NT)
|
|
Dr Genevieve Napper PhD (VIC)
|
Daryl Guest (TAS)
|
|
Helen Summers (NT)
|
Nina Tahhan (NSW)
|
|
Andrew Harris (VIC)
|
Shannon Peckham (QLD)
|
|
Corresponding Member: Jenna Owen (NSW)
|
|
| |
|
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group
Priorities for the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders's eye health is poorer than non-Indigenous Australians. One study suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have ten times the level of blindness from preventable eye disease than non‑Indigenous Australians (Layland et al, 2004).
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are located in rural and remote areas of Australia. Often these areas do not have enough patients to sustain a full time optometric practice. As a result the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) was established in 1975 by the Australian Government to assist optometrists by providing a 'fly in, fly out' service. More information about the VOS.
The priorities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Working Group are to:
- provide a forum for members to collaborate in developing sustainable models of eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
- provide an experts group to inform the Association in relation to the eye care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders;
- provide a vehicle for advocacy for adequate funding and programs to facilitate sustainable eye care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; and
- increase the awareness of the need for good eye care in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Establishment of the Indigenous Allied Health Association
A new peak national body to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allied health professionals and students, was established in July 2010. More information.
New Guidelines
The provision of Sustainable eye care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians(74kb)
Training to up-skill primary health care staff
International Centre for Eyecare Education Limited (ICEE) has recently developed resources on a series of eye topics, designed to be used by visiting optometrists to provide in-service style training to up-skill primary health care staff in the following: Measuring and recording vision, Cataracts, Diabetic eye disease, Differential diagnosis of red eye and Eye injuries and emergencies.
This training has been delivered to a number of locations (Aboriginal Medical Services and remote Community Health Centres) across the NT, in conjunction with ICEE's outreach optometry program. It aims to build local capacity for improved primary eye care, includingi better early detection and stronger referral pathways. Visit here for more information about the project, funded by a Rural Health Continuing Education, Round 2 (RHCE2) Grant through the Department of Health and Ageing.
In order to equip and resources other optometrists who provide visiting services to deliver in-service training, PDF versions of the training resources (student handbook, power point presentation, teacher's guide and activity sheets) can be provided. Please contact Amy Nicholls at ICEE if you would like to have a copy sent to you and don't forget to indicate which topic(s) you require. Email: a.nicholls@icee.org or call (08) 8942 5444