Tasmania Vision Initiative
Tasmanian Vision Initiative
The Tasmanian Eye Health and Vision Care Initiative (Tasmanian Vision Initiative) was a two year pilot project funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) under the National Eye Health Initiative (NEHI) demonstration grants program. The project was completed in 2009.
The goal of the project was to improve the coordination of eye health and vision care across Tasmania. The key objectives included:
- to ensure best practice eye health care service delivery throughout Tasmania through a targeted program of professional development for eye health and related health professionals
- to ensure efficient and effective coordination of services and appropriate referral protocols between eye health and vision care providers and other service providers
- to reduce risk factors for eye disease and vision loss and increase early detection by raising awareness among the Tasmanian general public
- to support the NEHI by demonstrating the program’s impact through research, monitoring and evaluation.
This collaborative project was guided by a Steering Committee with representation from:
- Optometrists Association Australia
- Royal Guide Dogs Association of Tasmania
- Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- Vision 2020 Australia
- Orthoptics Australia.
National Eye Health Initiative demonstration grants projects have been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Projects and activities
Project activities included:
- Scoping initial levels of understanding by key professional groups and their current professional development practice.
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Conducting a professional development program (education and resources) targeting partners and allied health care providers that:
- ensured all professionals had a sound working knowledge of each others role and function
- promoted best practice across health and related sectors
- supported eye health decision systems in relation to referral pathways and service provision
- promoted understanding of the relevant MBS items and PBS listed medicines.
- Evaluation of the professional development program.
- Mapping the existing referral pathways within the vision sector and investigating those that were not working at their optimum.
- Investigating feasibility of IT systems which could enhance the referral network.
- Scoping the level of understanding among the Tasmanian general public.
- Developing a marketing and communications plan for the program based on the findings, incorporating widespread advertising and promotional activity.
- Seeking support from the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for the implementation of the social marketing campaign.
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Implementing public awareness raising activities that:
- demonstrated the importance of preventative measures and regular eye examinations, particularly for those over 40 years and in high risk groups
- promoted programs that encouraged appropriate use of low vision services.
- Targeting relevant partner and stakeholder organisations to raise awareness of low vision and support services for at risk groups with campaign messages.
- Linking with any NEHI public awareness raising communication strategy conducted during the second year of the project.
- Leveraging existing health and community resources to support distribution of campaign resources.
- Developing and implementing a succession plan to ensure that all systems were self sustaining and maintainable after implementation.
The Tasmanian Vision Initiative worked in partnership with Vision 2020 Australia to redevelop the Save Your Sight – Get Tested campaign materials for use across Tasmania as part of an eye health awareness campaign. The Save Your Sight – Get Tested brochure (available below) will continue to be included in all driving licence renewal notices sent to Tasmanians until mid 2010.