"Vision for Vision": The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference

Representatives from RDN’s Outreach Services team flew to Hobart last week for the 2024 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC24) which aims to advance the collective work of the Indigenous eye health sector towards the shared goal of ending avoidable vision loss and blindness.

Held on Nipaluna Country from Wednesday through to Friday, the Conference was, for the first time, formally hosted by Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led eye health organisation: the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA). RDN was represented by Program Manager - Outreach Services, Amanda Masset, Snr Project Officer Jessica Rae and Project Officer Fareeya Sakur.

Fareeya Sakur presented the advocacy initiatives of the Aboriginal Advisory Group at a tabletop discussion. She discussed the advocacy plan developed by the Advisory Group, which aims to enhance eye health outcomes and increase access to eye health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in NSW and ACT. The discussion also highlighted RDN’s role in facilitating and supporting the Advisory Group with RDN advocacy initiatives.

On the second day of the conference, Jessica (pictured right) presented on the topic of Western NSW Eye Health Partnership: The great beginnings of a ‘Strategic Outcomes Roadmap’, together with Tori Whiley Aboriginal Health Practitioner from Condobolin Aboriginal Health Service, Ebony Hay Aboriginal Health Worker and trainee Occupational Therapist from Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (pictured below left) and Assoc. Prof. Khyber Alam University of Western Australia. 

The presentation outlined the partnership rationale for a strategic plan for the region, the importance of self-determination and Aboriginal voices in eye-health program planning, as well as the principles of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), utilised in the Strategic Outcomes Roadmap. Tori Whiley stated during her speech, regarding the Strategic Outcomes Roadmap “This is our vision, for vision”, noting the integrity and accountability that has been brought to the project by our Aboriginal collaborators. 

Tori and Ebony represented ACCHOSs in the Western region, that provide RDN funded Outreach programs in their services. In addition, staff from Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service, Kieran (AHP student) and Chloe (Team Leader and AHP), were also in attendance. All are eager to bring the shared networking and information back to their services and collaborate further in the Western NSW Eye Health Partnership long-term activities. 

The Western Eye Health Partnership is funded by The Fred Hollows Foundation and funding activities are facilitated and supported by RDN.