MEDIA RELEASE
Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy today revealed thousands of residents across Brimbank, Greater Dandenong, Swan Hill and Campaspe are set to benefit from Vision 2020 Australia’s Vision Initiative eye health program.
At a launch in Dandenong this morning, Minister Hennessy said the Vision Initiative would be rolled out to a further four Victorian local government areas following the success of the Vision Initiative Pilot Projects in 2012-2015.
According to the most recent Victorian Population Health Survey, Brimbank, Greater Dandenong, Swan Hill and Campaspe had high proportions of people who had never had an eye examination and were less likely to have regular eye tests, placing their sight at increased risk.
Minister Hennessy said she was delighted the program was extending to new areas as it would encourage more Victorians to get their eyes tested and save their sight.
Vision 2020 Australia CEO, Jennifer Gersbeck said: “We are thrilled to announce these new project areas, and look forward to working with the local community and primary health providers to educate and empower Victorians to prioritise their eye health.
“I am confident we will see continued success within the new targeted communities by linking people who are at risk of vision loss with local eye health services,” Ms Gersbeck added.
The Vision Initiative aims to prevent avoidable blindness and vision loss through working with health providers in local areas to create better identification and referral of people at risk of eye disease.
“A better educated and informed health workforce can help achieve improved patient outcomes. With our ageing population, eye health needs to be a health priority for all Victorians,” Ms Gersbeck said.
Local media campaigns will complement community and health provider activity to raise awareness of the importance of having regular eye tests to reduce avoidable blindness and vision loss.
ENDS
Media Contact
Louise Rudzki, Vision 2020 Australia, (03) 9656 2020, +61 414 784 359, lrudzki@vision2020australia.org.au