Vision 2020 - Maureen O'Keefe

1. A five year plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander eye health and vision 2019-2024
Strong eyes, strong communities
Vision 2020 Australia co-presenters:
Shaun Tatipata, The Fred Hollows Foundation
Maureen O’Keefe, Australian College of Optometry

2. Members of the Vision 2020 Australia
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy committee

3. Development of Strong eyes, strong communities
Some participants in consultation workshop from L-R
Levi Lovett, Fiona Stokes, Anne-Marie Banfield, Judith Abbott (V2020A CEO) Emma Robertson, Kerry
Woods, Jodie Silverton and Janet Richardson

4. Strong eyes, strong communities
Contains 27 recommendations to
government on:
1. Enhancing service delivery
2. Strengthening regional
partnerships and local supports
3. Further embedding eye care in
ACCHOs and other primary care
4. Eliminate trachoma

5. Implementation

6. Children’s vision
• 60-80% of learning is visual
• Poor vision effects development and school performance
• Childhood vision problems impact on adult life
Photo credit: Lions
Outback Vision

7. Elimination of trachoma
Australia is the only “high income” country to have trachoma
Image credit: 2017 Trachoma
Surveillance Report

8. Observed prevalence of active trachoma among screened
children aged 5-9 years, by jurisdiction
Image credit: 2017 Trachoma Surveillance Report

9. Recommendations to eliminate trachoma
• Continue work with state and territory housing authorities and
Aboriginal communities to ensure all housing programs are
underpinned by housing for health principles and include a
sustained investment in the operation, repair and maintenance of
water hardware.
• Work with State and Territory Governments to support continued
and expanded roles for environmental health workers in embedding
elements of the SAFE strategy.
• Agree a long term investment plan to achieve safe and affordable
remote housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Support trachoma and trichiasis training for primary care staff who
work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
particularly ACCHO staff.

10. Affordable glasses
Photo credit: Photo is of Linsey, supplied by the Brien Holden Vision Institute
Strong eyes, strong communities recommends:
“Continue work with states and territories and
NACCHO towards nationally consistent arrangements
for the provision of affordable glasses and other
optical aids to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people who need them through phased expansion of
current schemes from 2021-22.”

11. National strategy
Strong eyes, strong communities recommendations:
“Support development of a national strategy to promote the
early identification and management of vision problems in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.”

12. Opportunities for input
• Support and leadership of ACCHOs is critical to the successful
implementation of Strong eyes, strong communities
• Upcoming community engagement workshops are an
opportunity for ACCHOs to contribute to the implementation
of the plan
• Join us in advocacy efforts to ensure Australian Governments
commit to recommendations, including embedding eye health
in ACCHOs