ACT Vision Initiative

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ACT Vision Initiative

The ACT Vision Initiative is a partnership of health care organisations working together to develop strategies to improve the eye health of the ACT population.

The key objectives are to:

• improve the understanding and awareness of health professionals of eye health, vision issues and referral processes
• ensure effective coordination of services between eye health and vision care providers and other service providers
• increase the awareness and knowledge of the priority population groups about the importance of preventative activity and regular eye examinations
• develop sustainable future partnerships between eye health and low vision services and ACT Health to ensure the ongoing implementation of the National Framework.

There are a number of resources (available below) which provide further information on the activities and services in the ACT.

This project is guided by a Steering Committee with representation from:

• Optometrists Association Australia (OAA) NSW
• Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO)
• Vision 2020 Australia
• Vision Australia
• ACT Health - The Canberra Hospital
• The Canberra Eye Hospital.

Projects and activities

As part of a two year pilot program the ACT Vision Initiative has run targeted activities to provide information on eye health and vision care to both health professionals and the community of the Australian Capital Territory.

Key activities to date include:

• Diabetes and the eye education session for general practitioners in partnership with the ACT division of General Practice (ACTdGP).
• Diabetes ACT open day for health professionals and the community to visit the Diabetes ACT shop front and learn more about diabetes related eye problems.
• Production of a low vision services directory.
• Production of a resource explaining how to refer to low vision services in the ACT.
• Updating of the Vision Initiative Save Your Sight – Get Tested brochure for the ACT to be distributed via an Info-Med campaign in general practice’s across Canberra.
• Updating of the Vision Initiative Health Workers Reference Card for the ACT to be distributed at health professional information activities.
• Eye health and vision care information integrated into the Diabetes ACT and Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) (ACT) websites.
• Stand at the Canberra Blind Society open day to promote the Vision Initiative—ACT and provide eye health and vision care information to the community.
• Partnership with ACT Health’s Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) to update the eye assessment questions incorporated in the assessment and to provide eye health and vision care training to all ACAT assessors.
• Pharmacist education in partnership with PSA ACT providing information on Common Eye Presentations to Community Pharmacists.
• The ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher MLA participated in a televised eye examination to mark World Sight Day 2009. Broadcast on WIN Canberra Evening New, the eye test was followed by a personal message from the Minister urging Canberrans to get their eyes tested.
• Eye health market at Belconnen Mall, a five day eye screening and eye health information exhibition will raise awareness of eye health to the Belconnen community.
• Completion of scoping exercise of current referral practises for pharmacy, allied health care and low vision providers in ACT.
• Display and re-stock of eye health brochures (Low Vision services) in all General Practices waiting rooms.

National Eye Health Initiative demonstration grants projects have been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

More information

To find optometrists in the ACT visit the OAA website
To find ophthalmologists in the ACT visit the RANZCO website