The Brien Holden Foundation acknowledges the traditional Aboriginal custodians of the many lands that we live and work on, and their continuing connection to Country and culture. We respectfully recognise Elders past, present and emerging.
Shateesha trying on her new glasses at Mapura Oustation, East Arnhem Land.
Sunday the 4th of July 2021 marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme, Heal Country, aims to resolve the historic injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Australia in a fair and equitable manner.
The Brien Holden Foundation provides a number of services seeking to address inequalities in vision healthcare. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are over three times more likely to have poor vision compared with other Australians.
The Aboriginal Vision Program improves access to optometry services for Aboriginal communities, contributing towards the prevention of avoidable vision loss. Brien Holden Foundation provides services directly, guides policy through participating in relevant sector working groups and committees, conducts research, develops and delivers eye health training to primary health care practitioners, and actively collaborates with other organisations working with these communities.
The eye clinic at Mapuru School, East Arnhem Land, was very popular with both kids and adults.
The Brien Holden Foundation coordinates the Provision of Eye Health Equipment and Training program, supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and co-led by the Australian College of Optometry. Diabetes related vision impairment is almost four times higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compared to non-Indigenous Australians and 98% of vision loss in Aboriginal communities is preventable or treatable.
The program is increasing the rate of diabetic screening by Aboriginal primary health care services. So far 919 health workers have been trained to use provided retinal cameras across 166 around Australia. The program also includes the valuable support of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, Centre for Eye Health and Optometry Australia.
Together with the Indigenous Allied Health Association, the Brien Holden Foundation offers scholarships to individuals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent studying tertiary level Optometry/Vision Science courses.
These programs represent the active dedication of the Brien Holden Foundation towards empowering local communities and resolving historical injustices faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, in an effort to #HealCountry.