ABOUT US
Our Mission is to prevent blindness and vision loss among regional, remote and Indigenous Western Australian’s by improving access to quality eye health care services.
Many of the eye conditions leading to blindness and vision loss are preventable or treatable. Access to comprehensive eye health care services, including specialist care and surgery, is important to ensure eye health conditions are detected and treated as early as possible.
Lions Outback Vision was established in 2010 with the support of the Lions Eye Institute and the University of Western Australia.
We are a small but dedicated team of eye health professionals that are firmly committed to improving the eye health of rural, remote and Indigenous West Australians. We believe that all Australians should be able to access comprehensive and appropriate eye health care services irrespective of where they may live.
Lions Outback Vision aims to address the unique challenges of delivering quality specialist eye health care to regional, remote and Indigenous communities across our state with the development and implementation of innovative and sustainable models of service delivery. We currently provide specialist eye health care services throughout the Pilbara, Kimberley, Goldfields, Midwest and Great Southern regions of Western Australia.
Together with our Partners and Supporters, we aim to further develop and build the capacity of local health care providers and planners to deliver accessible, equitable, effective and culturally appropriate eye health care programmes and services to regional, remote and Indigenous West Australian’s.
Achievements
Improved Service Provision
Provision of a new ophthalmology service to Kalgoorlie, Laverton, Leonora and Wiluna. Services are provided four times per year in the region.
Innovative Service Delivery
The Lions Outback Vision Van, a mobile eye health facility filled with specialist eye equipment, was launched in March 2016. The facility provides comprehensive eye health care for cataracts, trachoma, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Resourcing for Better Eye Health Outcomes
Collaborated with IRIS to fund the appointment of a WA Telemedicine Project Officer. The principal aim of this position was to identify, develop and implement guidelines that address the barriers to the uptake and effective use of Tele-ophthalmology in Western Australia.
Training and Education
Convened the first interdisciplinary WA Outreach Eye Health Conference for Ophthalmologists, Registrars, Optometrists, and Aboriginal Health Workers currently participating in the delivery of rural, remote, and Indigenous eye health care services.
Advocacy
Participation in a newly established National telemedicine Taskforce for the coordination of Telemedicine services across Australia. The Taskforce clearly identified the need for National coordination in view of the many different approaches to Tele-ophthalmology currently being pursued across Australia.
The Taskforce aims to harness and promote the inherent benefits of sharing successes and failures as Tele-ophthalmology gains momentum as an acceptable and viable mode of specialist eye health care delivery.