MEDIA RELEASE
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and Vision 2020 Australia are asking Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to ‘snap for sight’ this World Sight Day by posting images, video or audio files that capture a significant moment on social media using the #snapforsight and #DeadlyEyes hashtags.
VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher AO said that “Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are at increased risk of vision loss and as such we are encouraging our peoples to make eye health a priority.
This World Sight Day, VACCHO is joining Vision 2020 Australia to raise awareness of the importance of regular eye tests. Through #snapforsight we encourage our community to think about eye health and make a connection between moments that are significant to them and the need to look after their sight.”
The National Eye Health Survey (NEHS) released today revealed that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people still have three times the prevalence of vision impairment and blindness compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Vision 2020 Australia CEO Carla Northam, said “While great progress has been made to close the gap in vision we still have a long way to go to eliminate avoidable blindness and vision loss in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Saving sight could be as easy as having regular eye examinations.”
The survey found that cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and uncorrected refractive error remain the main causes of blindness and vision loss among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. In addition, half of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander participants with diabetes are not having an annual eye examination as per the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines for diabetic retinopathy.
To celebrate World Sight Day, VACCHO and Vision 2020 Australia’s Vision Initiative will have a stand at the Murrun Dhelk Senior Indigenous Football & Netball Carnival at the Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve in Bendigo on 15 and 16 October 2016. Information on eye health and vision care will be available and a photo booth will be set up for #snapforsight and #DeadlyEyes throughout the weekend.
People attending the Carnival are invited to visit the stand to relax in the ‘chill out’ zone, learn more about eye health and have fun by sharing their deadliest moments at the photo booth.
To find out more about #snapforsight and how to get involved visit www.snapforsight.com.
ENDS
For more information: Adam Sawell at Vision 2020 Australia 03 9656 2020 or asawell@vision2020australia.org.au
About #snapforsight
The #snapforsight campaign is a fun social media initiative encouraging all Australians to focus on capturing their moment and raising awareness about the importance of vision care, eye health and regular eye examinations.
How to get involved in #snapforsight
Step 1: Capture your moment via image, video or audio file
Step 2: Share your moment on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram with a #altText description
Step 3: Make sure you include the #snapforsight and #DeadlyEyes hashtags in your post
Step 4: Ask others to joint #snapforsight and capture and describe their moment
About VACCHO
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) was established in 1996. VACCHO is the peak Aboriginal health body representing 100% of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) in Victoria. The role of VACCHO is to build the capacity of its Membership and to advocate for issues on their behalf. www.vaccho.org.au
About the Vision Initiative
The Vision Initiative is an integrated health promotion program managed by Vision 2020 Australia and funded by the Victorian Government. It aims to reduce avoidable blindness and vision loss across Victoria by delivering eye health interventions to primary health providers, community and media. www.visioninitiative.org.au
About Vision 2020 Australia
Established in October 2000, Vision 2020 Australia is part of VISION 2020: The Right to Sight, a global initiative of the World Health Organization and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
Vision 2020 Australia represents around 50 member organisations involved in: local and global eye care; health promotion; low vision support; vision rehabilitation; eye research; professional assistance and community support. www.vision2020australia.org.au
About the National Eye Health Survey (NEHS)
The NEHS is the first comprehensive national survey of the prevalence of blindness and vision impairment in Australia. The NEHS provides a benchmark for Australia to measure national progress in eye health and vision care. The NEHS was released on Thursday 13 October 2016.