2023 Barry Jones Vision Oration
The third annual Barry Jones Vision Oration was delivered by ABC Disability Affairs Reporter, Nas Campanella, on March 22, 2023.
Nas lost her sight when she was six months old and has a sensitivity condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth which means she can’t read Braille. Nas has supported young people with vision impairments to transition into mainstream schooling and also works as a mentor to people with disabilities and mental illness.
In 2022, Nas became a mother for the first time and this experience has empowered her to share her journey of preparing for motherhood when you also live with disability, including the supports and services available, the pregnancy journey and overcoming prejudice.
Background to the Barry Jones Vision Oration
As part of our work around raising awareness on critical issues related to eye health and vision care, Vison 2020 Australia established an annual address, the Barry Jones Vision Oration, named in honour of its inaugural Chair Prof the Hon Barry Jones AC who has been a long-standing supporter of the eye health and vision care sector, and continues to support the sector in his role as a Patron of Vision 2020 Australia.
This is the premier annual keynote speech from the eye health and vision care sector.
Previous Orations
2021 – A/Prof. Kristopher Rallah-Baker, Australia’s first Aboriginal ophthalmologist.
2020 – 2020 Australian of the Year, ophthalmologist Dr James Muecke AM.