Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) represent the collective of all Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations across Victoria. VACCHO aims to provide better health for all Aboriginal people by building knowledge and getting relevant resources to local communities to help them make a difference.

In 2007 the Vision Initiative received funding from the Victorian Department of Health to develop and deliver a culturally appropriate eye health training resource for Aboriginal Health Workers in partnership with VACCHO.

The education module titled HLTAHW417A Provide information and strategies in eye health is offered through Certificate IV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care.

The course has enabled:

  • the integration of eye health and vision care information into the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care qualification
  • Aboriginal Health Workers to increase their understanding of eye health and vision care issues and services in Victoria
  • Aboriginal Health Workers to integrate eye health and vision care awareness into current practice.

The module was piloted in 2009 with six Aboriginal Health Workers from around Victoria taking part in the five day course co-located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and the Australian College of Optometry. Evaluation conducted by the Centre for Eye Research Australia from the pilot has been utilised to guide the development of the final course materials and learners resources.

Once published, the resources will be available through VACCHO. Further courses are anticipated in 2010. For more information please contact us at the Vision Initiative.

The Vision Initiative would like to acknowledge the expertise and advice received from the Project Advisory Group in the development of the course materials including representation from:

  • Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW
  • Australian College of Optometry
  • Centre for Eye Research Australia
  • Indigenous Eye Health Unit, University of Melbourne
  • International Centre for Eyecare Education
  • Optometrists Association Australia
  • Queensland University of Technology
  • The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
  • Victorian Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
  • Vision 2020 Australia
  • Vision Australia.

For more information visit the VACCHO website.