News & Events

What's your Vision for Children?

Federal Parliamentarians joined members of Vision 2020 Australia in Canberra on 11 September to consider challenges for children's eye health. A special dinner, held in the dining rooms at Parliament House, featured expert speakers from the eye health and vision care sector.

• Dr Frank Martin, of the Children's Hospital Westmead, discussed challenges in paediatric ophthalmology
• Professor Debbie Sweeney, CEO of the Vision CRC, presented on myopia in children
• Mr Gerard Menses, CEO of Vision Australia, discussed best-practice services, care and education for children with low vision
• Dr Katrina Roper, of the National Trachoma Surveillance Unit, presented initial findings on the magnitude of trachoma in remote Australia, and a looked at eye health challenges for Indigenous children
• Mr John Jeffries, National Director of Christian Blind Mission International (Australia), presented on the incredible challenge of blindness prevention in children around the world.

The evening was a great success with over 70 people attending the dinner, including 20 Parliamentarians, representatives from Government departments and members of Vision 2020 Australia.

The these was chosen in the lead up to World Sight Day on 11 October 2007 which will also focus on children's eye health and vision care. Our Vision for Children is:

• they have the best possible vision to last their lifetime
• they can all lead active and independent lives
• that all have access to good eyecare services
• that their birth place does not deny them the right to sight

Launched in Canberra in March 2007, the Parliamentary Friends Group for Eye Health and Vision Care works to generate political support towards preventing avoidable blindness and improving vision care. Senator Dana Wortley from South Australia and Andrew Laming MP, the Member for Bowman, are co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends Group.

For more information on the Parliamentary Friends Group for Eye Health and Vision Care, please contact Damian Facciolo dfacciolo@vision2020australia.org.au.