Working with Indigenous Australians

Fred took eye care to some of Australia's most remote Indigenous communities, was at the forefront of the establishment of Aboriginal controlled medical centres and never hesitated to tell Australia it needed to do better.

That's why The Foundation's work amongst 55 Indigenous communities goes beyond eye care, helping build strong and sustainable health systems.

And we're working to ensure that the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is closed within a generation.

2009 Highlights

Eye health

• Two surgery intensive weeks in Alice Springs carried out 80 cataract operations and 21 other eye procedures for patients from Central Australia and the Barkly
• Committed to new eye clinic at Alice Springs Hospital as part of the Central Australian and Barkly Integrated Eye Health Service
• Supported eye health coordinators in remote regions of the Northern Territory - helping build eye health systems and ensuring Indigenous Australians have access to quality ophthalmology
• Optometry services and affordable spectacles provided through our optometry programs

Speaking out

• New policy and advocacy partnership formed with the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory
• Supported the Close the Gap coalition - bringing public attention to the health issues facing Indigenous Australians
• Worked with Charles Darwin University to improve Australia's knowledge of the social determinants of Indigenous health - making sure we know what is and isn't working
• Provided training to Indigenous groups so they can better speak out on their rights

Nutrition

• Anaemia prevention trial commenced - the project aims to tackle high levels of anaemia in remote communities - improving the health of thousands of children

Literacy   

• Indigenous Literacy Project distributed 15,000 books to 261 communities and organisations. 3,000 of these books went to schools - helping Indigenous kids improve their literacy skills

Women's development

• Development and launch of Kukumbat Gudwan Daga (Really Cooking Good Food) written by the Women's Centre staff in the Jawoyn and Bulman communities
• Banatjarl Women's Talkfest - a gathering of women from five Jawoyn communities to discuss issues of concern to women and develop a way forward for the formation of the Banatjarl Women's Council    

Culture

• Supported four Black Arm Band concerts in remote and regional centres
• Provided event management training programs for six remote trainees attached to two cultural festivals - Barunga and Walking with Spirits.

Go here to find out more about our Indigenous program.