A new $250,000 Vision Initiative partnership project between Vision 2020 Australia, Diabetes Australia – Vic and the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes was announced by the Minister for Health, the Hon David Davis MP on the 7 October.
The three year project will deliver information on diabetes and eye health to Victorian adults (aged 18 and above) who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes registered on the National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS). This integrated approach will help prevent avoidable blindness and vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy, a serious complication of diabetes affecting the eyes.
With 73 new cases of type 2 diabetes registered on the NDSS each day, the project is estimated at targeting over 26,500 Victorians per annum once it is in full operation.
The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes will conduct psychosocial and behavioural research to inform and develop effective ways to communicate health messages to those newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and will conduct an evaluation on the project.
The Minister for Health further cemented his support for the project by announcing it in Parliament on World Sight Day, commending both Vision 2020 Australia and Diabetes Australia – Vic on this new Vision Initiative project.
The announcement took place at Federation Square for the opening of Seniors Festival and was well attended by the media and onlookers from the Seniors Festival.
For more information on the Vision Initiative and the Diabetes and eye health project, contact Dee Tumino on 03 9656 2020.
Image: Jennifer Gersbeck, CEO Vision 2020 Australia, Hon David Davis MP, Minister for Health and Ageing and Virginia Hagger, National Education Manager Diabetes Australia
Photograph by Sam D’Agostino from SDP Media.