Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

This government acknowledges the importance of comprehensive information about the current status of eye health in Australia and is providing around $1 million towards the development of a national eye health survey. We are committed to increasing access to primary eye care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including through outreach services to rural and remote locations through programs such as the Visiting Optometrists Scheme and the Rural Health Outreach Fund.

I personally want to commend the work of the Fred Hollows Foundation and, in particular, Professor Minas Coroneo. Professor Coroneo has provided first-class eye care to Indigenous and remote communities in north-west New South Wales. I have been to the Bourke hospital and watched the team in action, which includes Joanna Barton, one of his colleagues, who has worked for over 40 years delivering this program and great service to those people in that part of New South Wales and beyond. Improving eye health is a key component of this government's commitment to improving Indigenous health.