Eye health
Life before the drought
(1999)
Julie Weekes
Acrylic on archer paper
This artwork is provided by the Edith Cowan University Art Collection.
More... »
The painting:
Basically the painting tells the viewer that life is controlled by the change of the environment. This change has taken place within thousands of years, yet man within an eye blink can cause the same change in the land for the sake of development.
The artist:
My mother is fifth generation Australian of European descent and my father a Torres Strait Islander. I grew up knowing I was an Islander but had no knowledge of my family or culture.
Organisations
Information is collected here on organisations that are working to prevent eye disease and/or address eye health issues. Links to Indigenous organisations throughout Australia have been provided where possible.
Australian Government agencies
HealthInsite
This Australian Government initiative provides information
on a wide range of health topics accessed through a search
facility. It also publishes latest information and a newsletter
on current health issues.
View
web page: Eye health and vision impairment services
View
web page: Eye infections
View
website: HealthInsite
Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
(OATSIH)
The Department’s Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Health (OATSIH) is committed to supporting sustained
action coordinated across all governments to achieve health
improvements over time, including eye health.
View
website: Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
State and Territory government agencies
Aboriginal Eye Care Clinics - NSW
Aboriginal medical services have established eye clinics across
New South Wales. Since many Aboriginal people are losing their
vision because of preventable or treatable causes (such as
diabetes), the NSW eye clinics are designed to combat this
problem. The clinics provide eye care and vision correction,
including spectacles and other optical aids, within Aboriginal
community controlled health services. The eye clinics at NSW
Aboriginal community controlled health services are in Walgett,
Moree, Wellington, Bega, Nowra, Redfern, Wagga Wagga, and
Kempsey.
View
information: Eyes on Diabetes
Centre for Remote Health
The centre is undertaking the review of the implementation
of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health program.
View
information: Centre for Remote Health
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
This organisation of medical specialists has a long-term involvement
in issues relating to Indigenous eye health.
View website:
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
The hospital, located in Melbourne offers specialist teaching
and referral for eye and ear medicine. Patient information,
newsletters, eye services information, and other academic
department links are available at this site.
View
website: Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital
School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology
The school offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses,
operates an optometry clinic, and conducts research.
View
website: School of Optometry, Queensland University of Technology
The school also provides specific information on Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander eye care.
View
information: School of Optometry, Queensland University of
Technology
Vision2020 Australia
Vision 2020 Australia was established in 2000 as part of Vision
2020: The right to sight - a global initiative of the
World Health Organization and the International Agency for
the Prevention of Blindness to eliminate avoidable blindness
and vision loss by the year 2020.
View
website: Vision2020 Australia
Non-government agencies
Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA)
The Centre undertakes research into eye disease, visual impairment
and blindness. The website provides information on current
research, publications and details of useful links.
View website:
Centre for Eye Research Australia
Dalcross Private Hospital: Eye Centre
The Centre is located in Sydney and provides ophthalmic surgical
services.
View website:
Dalcross Private Hospital: Eye Centre
Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation has developed and implemented
eye health programs for Indigenous people.
View website:
Fred Hollows Foundation
Glaucoma Australia Inc
The mission of Glaucoma Australia is to minimise visual
disability from glaucoma. It accomplishes this by: increasing
community awareness and understanding of glaucoma and the
need for regular eye checks; supporting glaucoma patients
and their families, especially with information; and funding
glaucoma research. The organisation offers counselling, produces
an informative newsletter and holds regular support group
meetings.
View
website: Glaucoma Australia Inc
Optometrists Association Australia
The Optometrists Association Australia provides a range of
services to its membership of Australian optometrists, including
representing them and their interests to government and other
bodies, and providing resources and publications to assist
them in their practices. It also provides information and
other services to the Australian public.
View
website: Optometrists Association Australia
Orthoptic Association of Australia
Orthoptics is the allied health profession specialising in
the diagnosis and management of disorders of eye movements
and associated vision problems.
View
website: Orthoptic Association of Australia
International organisations
American Academy of Ophthalmology
The academy aims to advance the learning and professional
interests of ophthalmologists to ensure the best possible
eye care. The site has useful links for the public and health
professionals on current eye news, resources and products.
View website: American Academy
of Ophthalmology
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
This agency was established with the aim of achieving and
promoting blindness prevention activities.
View website:
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness
International Centre for Eye Care Education
The centre provides education to eyecare practitioners
and encourages them to help communities in need.
View website:
International Centre for Eye Care Education
International Eye Foundation
The foundation works in partnership with many organisations
around the world conducting programs and providing information
on the prevention and management of eye conditions, and ophthalmic
surgical supplies.
View website:
International Eye Foundation
Lions International
The current major service commitment of Lions Clubs International
is the prevention and reversal of blindness with a program
called SightFirst. This website provides details about the
program.
View website:
Lions International
National Eye Institute (NEI)
This Institute, one of the US National Institutes of Health,
conducts and supports research that helps prevent and treat
eye diseases and other disorders of vision. The website provides
general information about eye health including visual presentations.
View website:
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Royal College of Ophthalmologists
The college is responsible for promoting education and training.
Information about various activities, events and publications
is available on the website.
View website:
Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Vision2020
Vision 2020 is a worldwide effort designed to eliminate avoidable
blindness by the year 2020. Vision 2020, in conjunction with
the World Health Organization's Global Initiative for the
Elimination of Avoidable Blindness, aims to: increase awareness
of blindness as a major public health issue; control the major
causes of blindness; train ophthalmologists and other eyecare
personnel to provide appropriate eyecare; and create an infrastructure
to manage the problem.
View website:
Vision2020
Women's eye health task force
The Women’s Eye Health Task Force formed in response
to the fact that a high proportion of blind and visually impaired
people are women. It was formed as an education, outreach
program as most cases of blindness and visual impairment are
preventable or treatable.
View
website: Women's eye health task force
This web site contains PDF documents that require the most current version of Adobe Reader to view. To download click on the icon below.
