Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) upskills Toomelah local nurse

In Toomelah, a small Aboriginal community in northern NSW, the Brien Holden Vision Institute and Toomelah Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) host optometry clinics for the community, funded through the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS).

Over time, the clinic’s visiting optometrist upskilled a nurse at the AMS, Ann Marie Thomas (pictured), enabling her to complete preliminary eye screenings and fix glasses.

Ann Marie visits local schools and after assessing them, refers them to the optometrist clinic. The school screening program also allows children to have their glasses fixed by Ann Marie at school, so they don’t have to wait for the next optometry clinic.

Ann Marie says she believes eye health in Toomelah has improved thanks to the optometry service.