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National body working in partnership to prevent
avoidable blindness and improve vision care
This year has been an eventful and productive one for the sector. The lead up to the Federal Election was an opportune time to come together as a sector and bolster advocacy efforts, and the success of this collaboration can be seen in the many highlights throughout 2013.
In Timor-Leste people with a disability continue to face many barriers to social and economic inclusion. The Royal Australasian College Of Surgeons, through the Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium, has been delivering Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training courses in Timor-Leste since 2010 to help people who are blind or have low vision to increase their safety and independence.
In the second interview of our Q&A series, Vision 2020 Australia talks to Dr. Penny Allen about the amazing Bionic Eye Project currently running in pilot phase. Dr. Allen is an ophthalmologist in the medical and vitreoretinal unit at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH); a medical retina and vitreoretinal surgeon on staff at The Alfred; and Program Leader, Surgical Program at Bionic Vision Australia. She is also an associate at the Centre for Eye Research Australia.
This year, together with our members, Vision 2020 Australia has continued to keep eye health and vision care on the public agenda and foster support among key members of parliament.
Jess Gallagher and I arrived home on Sunday, 21 October after an eventful week in Vietnam! Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday (13/10) was an assault on our senses — smells, sounds and sights. After being picked up by Phoung (Brien Holden Vision Institute) we checked into our hotel and headed out for dinner. Jess tried everything — I didn’t! After a quick look around the city, we headed to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, a three hour drive south-west towards the sea.
My trip here to Vietnam with Vision 2020 Australia has already been an incredible one and we are only at day three. I have been able to experience firsthand the amazing work that has been achieved and I am incredibly excited for this journey to continue.
According to the latest WHO report on disability, over one billion people in the world live with disabilities and about 80 per cent of these people live in developing countries. There exists a strong undeniable direct link between disability and poverty.
At 32 you don’t expect to be told that you’re at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Following a Work Health Check last year, some questions about diabetes in my family, and a waist measurement, I was told that my over indulgence over the years, growing serving sizes, and inactivity has placed me at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Jennifer Gersbeck has been CEO of Vision 2020 Australia for over seven years. In her first blog post she reflects on this time and how she is continually inspired.
