Indigenous Eye Health
About IEH (Minum Barreng)
Governance
Contact
Staff
About Indigenous Eye Health
Indigenous Eye Health (IEH) was established in 2008 at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health to undertake world-leading research that has established an evidence-base and policy framework to address Indigenous eye health in Australia.
IEH aims to Close the Gap for Vision for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population through world-leading research, policy formation, advocacy and implementation. IEH is currently actively engaged in:
Governance
An Advisory Board oversees the work of IEH and provides overarching advice, direction on work, guidance on funding, and advice as to how data collected can be used to implement policy change.
The work of IEH is generously supported by a number of private donors, philanthropic trusts, and the Australian Government Department of Health.
Head of Unit
Professor Hugh R Taylor AC
E: h.taylor@unimelb.edu.au
Contact Us
Indigenous Eye Health
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
The University of Melbourne
Level 5, 207 Bouverie Street,
Carlton, Victoria, 3010, Australia
Tel: +61 3 8344 9320
Email: Indigenous-EyeHealth@unimelb.edu.au
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
Our Staff
Melbourne Laureate Professor Hugh R Taylor AC, internationally renowned ophthalmologist, and inaugural Harold Mitchell Chair of Indigenous Eye Health is the IEH Director. He leads a team of knowledge translation scholars, health promotion and research officers and administrative staff.
Background
Reports
Toolkit
Position Papers
The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision
Indigenous Eye Health (IEH) undertook The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision project to review health service provision and develop a model of eye care for Indigenous Australians for presentation to the Australian Government.
Roadmap Report
The project outcomes are documented in The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision, released in 2012, which includes a sector-endorsed, evidence-based, whole-of-system framework that collectively seeks to address Indigenous eye health inequity and Close the Gap for Vision.
Annual Update Reports
Each year, IEH produces an update on progress to implement the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision. Progress on all 42 recommendations is updated.
Roadmap Resources
To support the implementation of the Roadmap framework, IEH has produced a number of resources, including;
- Eye Health Calculator
- Position Statements and
- Toolkit
Other Reports
IEH develops a number of other technical reports and reports in response to stakeholder Roundtables and Forums.
Background
Resource Kit
Downloads
Multimedia
Ordering
Get Involved
Training
Social Media: Facebook | TwitterDiabetes Eye Care
Indigenous people with diabetes form 72% of those needing eye care each year so they are an essential group to engage with. Up to 98% of the vision loss from diabetes can be prevented with annual eye examinations and timely treatment.
Indigenous Eye Health (IEH) at The University of Melbourne has undertaken an engaging, community-driven process to develop eye health promotion resources focusing on eye care for those with diabetes to raise the awareness and knowledge of the prevention of diabetes related eye conditions and the importance of annual eye examinations
The specific objectives of this work are to:
- Increase the awareness and knowledge of the prevention of diabetes related eye conditions and the importance of annual eye examinations
- Increase the awareness and knowledge of the availability and accessibility of eye health services
- Increase the knowledge and awareness of health professionals in prevention, identification and referral pathways for diabetes related eye health conditions
- Support and improve the capacity of organisations to deliver locally appropriate eye communication and awareness
Order Diabetes Eye Care Resources
The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resource kit is available to order at no charge, with some components available to download
Multimedia
A selection of multimedia resources is available to support the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' diabetes eye care messages that can be displayed and used in a variety of ways including: waiting room TVs, social media, websites, local community radio, newsletters and education programs.
Get Involved
Find out about other ways to use ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ resources and ideas to promote key eye health messages using a range of channels, such as social media, health events and awareness days, and strategies to integrate into existing diabetes and education programs.
We encourage creative adaptations of the ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ resources, messages and related illustrations to support local community needs to raise awareness on diabetes eye care. We are happy to make the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' logo and its associated materials as accessible as possible while still maintaining its visual presentation and re-enforcing its brand recognition and messages.
Other promotional resources (such as T-shirts, wristbands) to reinforce the ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ message at community events are also available to purchase.
Background
Resource Kit
Downloads
Multimedia
Ordering
Guidelines
Training
Social Media: Facebook | TwitterTrachoma
Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in 42 of the world's poorest countries.
Australia is the only developed country in the world to still have active trachoma in remote Indigenous communities. Trachoma is most often found in small children but scarring and in turned eye lashes are found in older people throughout the country. Trachoma persists in areas with poor personal and community hygiene.
In 2010, IEH coordinated the development of the Trachoma Story Kit, a comprehensive kit that includes flipcharts, guidelines and student resources that can be used by clinics, schools and community groups to provide clear and consistent messages about trachoma, how it is spread and how everyone can help to eliminate it.
Order Trachoma Resources
The Trachoma Story Kit, and other resources, can be used to promote facial cleanliness in schools, clinics and communities, and are available to order at no charge, with some resources available to download
Trachoma Multimedia
A number of videos and songs are available to watch, listen or download to raise the awareness of trachoma, the importance of facial cleanliness to stop the spread of disease and to promote the 'Clean Face, Strong Eyes' health promotion message.
Milpa the Trachoma Goanna
Milpa the Trachoma Goanna, has become a mascot for healthy eyes and good health in remote communities. We are happy to make the Goanna logo and its associated materials as accessible as possible while still maintaining its visual presentation and re-enforcing its brand recognition and messages.
Milpa the Trachoma Goanna
Diabetes Eye Care Training & Resources
-
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Card (for health professionals)
A basic diabetic retinopathy screening tool for health professionals conducting an eye check for people with diabetes to help determine appropriate referral and follow-up.
-
Diabetic Retinopathy Grading Course
This course is organised in several parts and includes practice quiz sessions for each. A final competency-based exam evaluates the ability to accurately detect and grade diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
-
Remote Area Health Corps RAHC
Eye Health and Diabetes Module.
-
Remote Area Health Corps RAHC
Diabetes eLearning Module [Video]
Trachoma Training & Resources
Publications
Below you will find the various publications issued by Indigenous Eye Health over the years along with supporting materials and external reports. This includes all of our past reports, journal articles, and more.