Developing the Resources
An iterative, engaging, community-driven process was taken to develop eye health promotion messages and resources focusing on diabetes eye care. Community consultations were undertaken in selected regions, partly because of their progress in implementing the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision where eye care service improvements are being implemented.
This 'behind the scenes' video helps to capture the creative process used in the three regions involved in the development of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' diabetes eye care resources showing the powerful 'by community for community' strengths-based approach.
It involved urban, remote and rural settings, from three states;
- Deception Bay, South East Queensland (urban)
- Looma Community, Kimberley, Western Australia (remote)
- The Grampians region, Victoria (rural)
How the ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ Resources were made:
Behind the Scenes
How the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources were made - Behind the Scenes
The 'by community for community' approach included music, art and sharing personal stories as the backbone for community engagement and participation. This community engagement was integral to understanding the motivation, ability and triggers for behavioural change from community members directly affected by diabetes and/or affected by vision loss from diabetes.
This community engagement also allowed for key themes, slogans, language, design and imagery to be created for the overall 'look and feel' of a suite of social marketing resources. The video shows the brainstorming, music recording, filming, art workshops, interviews, photos and a sense of achievement in creating the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' diabetes eye care resources.
The 'eye-con' logo was created from an original art design and each coloured ring within the eye represents an eye condition: diabetic eye disease, cataract, refractive error and trachoma. The supporting slogan 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' was generated during consultation in the Grampian's region. This slogan was then purposefully included in the music workshops in the other two regions to create connection between communities.
The 'sightline' is made up of a variety of elements traced from original artwork by participants from all regions. eyes traced from the original artwork from each region with cultural elements and patterning embedded along the 'sightline'.
Additional behind the scenes videos from each of the three regions involved in the development of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources.
Acknowledgements
Indigenous Eye Health (IEH) at The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge the contribution and guidance of:
- Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative (BADAC)
- Budja Budja Aboriginal Co-Operative
- Looma Remote Area Clinic
- Deception Bay Clinic
and community members in these regions in the development of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources.
IEH would also like to acknowledge the following for their input:
- Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC)
- Western Australia Country Health Service (WACHS)
- Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH)
- Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC)
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
- Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)
- Australian College of Optometry (ACO)
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
- Diabetes Australia
- Lions Outback Vision
Support for this project was provided by private donors, The Australian Government Department of Health, The Ian Potter Foundation, and The Aspen Foundation.
The artwork for this project was created through a series of community art workshops held in Looma, Western Australia, Deception Bay, Queensland and Ballarat, Victoria.
IEH would also like to acknowledge Gilimbaa Creative Agency and Indigenous Hip Hop Projects (IHHP) in the development of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources.
Resource Kit
The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resource kit has been developed to increase awareness about diabetes eye care and the need for people with diabetes to have a YEARLY eye check to help prevent vision loss and blindness. Primary care providers e.g. health workers, nurses, doctors, diabetes educators working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are well placed to pass on eye health messages to people with diabetes and to help prioritise eye health within chronic care.
The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resource kit includes the following components that are available to download below or order.
Each Kit Contains:
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Below you will find various additional Diabetes Eye Care Resources for Download
Additional Resources
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Check Today, See Tomorrow How-to Guide Powerpoint presentation on how to best use and interpret the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources.
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Check Today, See Tomorrow T-shirt Order Form Fill out the 'T-Shirt Order Form' to customise your 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' t-shirt with your own logo.
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Check Today, See Tomorrow Resource Information Flyer This flyer provides information on ordering the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' Resource Kit and how to view/download the supporting 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' multimedia resources.
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Check Today, See Tomorrow Diabetes Eye Check Flyer A flyer encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to get an eye check every year.
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Check Today, See Tomorrow Diabetes Eye Check Flyer A This Guide builds on the guidelines developed by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Guidelines for Diabetic Eye Care 2014 that set out the need for regular eye care from an ophthalmic perspective.
Style Guidleines and Permission for Use
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Check Today, See Tomorrow Style Guidelines Refer to the 'Style Guidelines' for the correct use of the 'eye-con', 'sightline' and associated materials and images to adapt the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources to support community needs.
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Check Today, See Tomorrow Permission Form Complete the 'Permission Form' to use the 'eye-con', sightline' and associated materials and images or to adapt the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources to support community needs.
MFC Ambassador Posters
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Check Today, See Tomorrow MFC Ambassador Poster Melbourne Football Club are supporting 'Check Today, See Tomorrow's' key message encouraging all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to get an eye check every year to prevent unnecessary vision loss and blindness.
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Check Today, See Tomorrow MFC Ambassador Poster Melbourne Football Club are supporting 'Check Today, See Tomorrow's' key message encouraging all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to get an eye check every year to prevent unnecessary vision loss and blindness.
Diabetes Eye Care Music Videos
A selection of diabetes eye care music videos were created in remote, rural and urban Indigenous communities. The music videos aim to deliver diabetes eye care key messages in an engaging and effective way. They feature Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been directly affected by diabetes and/or vision loss from diabetes. Videos can be watch or downloaded to use in a variety of ways including; waiting room TVs, social media, websites, local community radio, newsletters and education programs. Audio Files: If you require the mp3 audio files or further support please contact us via email.
Personal Stories
Personal stories and experiences from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were shared during the development of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' diabetes eye care resources.
A series of personal stories have been created to provide a resource for other people to listen first hand to the effect diabetes has had on an individual.
Individual stories include messages on looking after your eyes;
following treatment; losing your sight to diabetes; and supporting a family member with diabetes to get their eyes checked.
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Colleens Story 'Getting Your Eyes Checked'
Colleen shares her family history of diabetes and its complications. She talks about how she gets her eyes checked YEARLY so she can continue to keep her vision. 'Don't be shame go and get an eye check, diabetes can cause you blindness'. This is Colleen's story...
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Jacks Story 'Following Treatment'
Jack shares his story about his diabetes and how it’s affected him and his eyes. He talks about the treatment he’s had and how it has saved his sight and his life. 'Don't sugar coat it, don't make excuses'. This is Jack's story...
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Colins Story 'Losing Your Sight'
Colin shares his story on losing his sight to diabetes and how he has come to terms living with it. 'I didn't listen, I never realised, diabetes can affect your eyes'. This is Colin's story...
TV and Radio Ads
Engage your regional and local TV and radio stations to raise awareness about eye health in your community.
A variety of broadcast-quality ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ TV and radio ads are freely available to be shared and/or downloaded and are suitable to be used on local community radio, regional TV, played on a waiting room TV system, shared on social media and/or during community events and activities to increase awareness at a regional and local level about diabetes eye care.
If you require the mp3 audio files or further support please contact us via email.
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‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ diabetes eye care campaign.
30 Sec TV Ad (Main Ad)
This is the main TV ad for 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' diabetes eye care campaign. This TV ad encourages all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to get their eyes checked every year to prevent vision loss and blindness. -
Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for Diabetes Eye Care - Check Today, See Tomorrow.
45 Sec TV Ad
MFC Indigenous Eye Health Ambassador Neville Jetta shares key messages on the importance of following a healthy lifestyle and promotes the need for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to get an eye check every year. -
Victorian NAIDOC Football & Netball Carnival 2016.
50 Sec Promotional Video
MFC Indigenous Eye Health Ambassador Neville Jetta promotes the Victorian NAIDOC Murrun Dhelk Senior Football and Netball Carnival held 15th - 16th October 2016 in Bendigo, Victoria. Hosted by: Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC) & Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DDWAC). -
‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ diabetes eye care campaign.
30 Sec Radio Ad (Main Ad)
This is the main radio ad for 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' diabetes eye care campaign. This radio ad encourages all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes to get their eyes checked every year to prevent vision loss and blindness. -
Losing your Sight - Check Today, See Tomorrow.
This radio ad includes a segment from the personal story of Colin who shares his story on losing his sight to diabetes. The ad talks about how vision loss and blindness can be prevented with a simple eye check every year.
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Getting your Eyes Checked - Check Today, See Tomorrow.
30 Sec Radio Ad
This radio ad includes a segment from the personal story of Colleen who shares her family history of diabetes and its complications. The ad talks about the importance of getting your eyes checked every year to prevent vision loss and blindness.
Contact us via email for the mp4/mp3 files (or other file formats) to support local community awareness activities:
Promoting Regular Eye Checks
This 'Promoting Regular Eye Checks' video was produced to allay concerns and fears about the eye examination and to demonstrate the eye component of the MBS Item 715 Adult Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including
- History
- Vision Testing
- External Eye Exam
- Referral
Additional Multimedia Resources
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MedicineX - Diabetic Macular Oedema XPLAINED
Medical jargon can be confusing, but, we take away that confusion through storytelling. Diabetic Macular Oedema Xplained takes us on Julia’s journey with Diabetic Macular Oedema in an engaging, informative and entertaining story. Be sure to download your copy today!
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Lions Outback Vision - Bad Sugar, Bad Eyes (video)
This resource has been developed in the form of a short animated video clip which aims to highlight key patient information about diabetes and its effects on the eye, as well as the importance of, and justification for annual eye screening in order to increase awareness in the Indigenous Australian community.
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Lions Outback Vision - Diabetic Retinopathy (video)
Diabetic Retinopathy treatment explained.
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Big City Trip (video)
Budaya Productions have completed Sight For All's video for Aboriginal patients who need to come from remote communities to Adelaide or major towns for eye surgery. "Big City Trip" is played to patients in the health clinics to help alleviate fears about the journey, the surgery, and its outcomes. Sight For All acknowledges OZ Minerals who sponsored this initiative.
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Sid's Bad Sugar (video)
Sight For All have recently finished working with Rubber House and Eddie White on an animated video to raise awareness amongst Aboriginal people of the potentially blinding complications of diabetic eye disease. Sight For All acknowledges OZ Minerals who sponsored this initiative.
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Aunty Marys Story (video)
Titled 'Aunty Mary's Story', this video is the cornerstone of a collaborative campaign between Guide Dogs NSW/ACT and Aboriginal Elder Aunty Mary Hooker, a Bundjalung woman, who has impaired vision. Brien Holden Vision.
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Aunty Marys Story: Diabetic Retinopahy Cost Mary her Sight (video)
Mary, 54, a Bundjolong woman from Taree was declared legally blind last year. Just over 27 years ago she was diagnosed with diabetes and over the years, due to associated complications, she developed diabetic retinopathy. Brien Holden Vision.
Ordering
If you would like to order the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resource kit or individual items, please access the order form below. Please indicate how many items you wish to order. You can also download each component of the resource kit by going to the resource kit section of this website.
If you require larger quantities of the resources or assistance placing an order, please contact us directly and we may be able to assist or phone (03) 8344 9320.
The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resource kit is provided for Australian organisations only. If you are placing an order outside of Australia, this may not be processed. Please contact us before you place an order.
Get Involved
The ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ resource kit has been developed so that its eye health messages and components can be used across a range of channels, such as social media, health events and awareness days, and integrated into existing diabetes and education programs. A few ideas are described below to help increase your capacity to raise awareness about diabetes and eye health.
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.
- STEP 1: Promote Key Messages
Key messages can be easily shared on social media platforms during health events, awareness days and integrate them into existing diabetes and health programs.
Diabetes is a major cause of vision loss and blindness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Up to 98% of vision loss and blindness from diabetes is preventable with early detection and follow-up treatment.
Key messages include:
- Everyone with diabetes is at risk of going blind.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes require a YEARLY eye check to reduce their risk of vision loss and blindness
- Diabetes can cause damage at the back of your eye without you knowing. Don’t wait for symptoms.
- Good diabetes management including controlling blood sugars, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, is important for preventing vision loss and blindness.
- Following treatment as directed by an eye specialist can prevent further vision loss
Health awareness days:
- World Sight Day is an annual day of awareness held on the second Thursday of October each year, to focus global attention on blindness and vision impairment.
- National Diabetes Week always includes the week around 14 July.
- World Diabetes Day is an international event to raise awareness about diabetes, celebrated every year on 14 November.
- JulEYE is The RANZCO Eye Foundation’s national eye health awareness month that takes place during July each year.
Social media messages:
Remember to post messages on your clinic or community Facebook/Twitter page, website or print in your newsletter
Suggested social media hash tags: #checktodayseetomorrow #CTST #urbaneyes #seetomorrow
Below are some sample messages that you can post leading up to, during health awareness events and activities and beyond.
- Diabetes can cause blindness. Get your eyes checked YEARLY. Ask your local clinic about making an appointment today. #checktodayseetomorrow #diabetes
- November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Got diabetes? Go and get your eyes checked! #checktodayseetomorrow
- Got diabetes? A YEARLY eye check can detect problems early before your vision is affected. #CTST
- ‘Don’t Be Shame Go and Get an Eye Check’. Diabetes can cause blindness. #checktodayseetomorrow #urbaneyes
- Got diabetes? Get your eyes checked YEARLY #seetomorrow
- 'I didn’t listen, I never realised diabetes can affect your eyes' #checktodayseetomorrow
- Up to 98% blindness from diabetes is preventable and treatable #checktodayseetomorrow
Follow us on Facebook for other ideas - STEP 2: Disseminate the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' Resources
The ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ resource kit can be used to reinforce the messages above and be used in a variety of ways in your clinic, health programs, and community settings. These include:
- Diabetes Eye Care Brochure - to give to people with diabetes and their carers to provide key information on diabetes eye care and the importance of a YEARLY eye check
- Diabetes Eye Care Flipchart - a patient education tool on diabetic retinopathy that can be used one on one with a client, in a diabetes group or as a professional development tool
- Poster Series - include a reminder message about YEARLY eye checks displayed in waiting rooms, community settings and on social media platforms
Resource kit components can be downloaded or ordered online at no charge.
Multimedia
We have a variety of engaging multimedia resources to share with people with diabetes including:
- diabetes eye care music videos,
- digital stories and
- mp3 audio files
Video and audio files can be downloaded and posted periodically on:
- your organisation website,
- played in your waiting room TV and on your local community radio station,
- used in a diabetes group, or
- used as a ring tone for your phone.
Educational Resources
A number of free professional development tools are available to help and support Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses, doctors, and diabetes educators etc. when talking to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with diabetes about eye care and include:
- STEP 3: Adapt the Resources
We encourage the widespread use of and adaptations of the ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ resources, messages and related illustrations to raise awareness on diabetes eye care. A range of creative community adaptations of the messages and images can be developed and applied to promotional materials.
The ‘Check Today, See Tomorrow’ ‘sightline’ and ‘eye-con’ logo can be applied to T-shirts, wristbands, newsletters, posters, and other promotional resources to promote diabetes eye health.
Please refer to the ‘Check Today See Tomorrow Style Guidelines’ below for further information and suggestions.
For further support and information please contact us Indigenous-EyeHealth@unimelb.edu.au
Style Guidelines
IEH encourage the wide spread use of and adaptations of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' resources, messages and related illustrations to raise awareness on Indigenous diabetes eye care. We hope to make the slogan, 'eye-con', 'sightline' and 'Associated Materials' as accessible as possible while still maintaining its visual presentation and re-enforcing its brand recognition and eye messages. A range of creative community adaptations of the messages and images can be developed and applied to promotional materials.
Example of adaptation: The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' poster images can be replaced with images of local community members. The 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' 'sightline' and 'eye-con' logo can be applied to t-shirts, wristbands, newsletters, posters, other promotional resources to promote diabetes eye care.
To preserve the full integrity of the 'Check Today, See Tomorrow' artwork and respect to all the communities associated with the development of it, IEH will retain artistic control over its use and ask that you read and follow the information outlined below.
Download Style Guidelines for the correct use of the 'eye-con', 'sightline' and associated materials and images
Download Permission Form for permission to use the 'eye-con', sightline' and associated materials and images
Submit the 'Permission Form' to Indigenous-EyeHealth@unimelb.edu.au
Diabetes Eye Care Training & Resources
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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.
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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.
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Remote Area Health Corps RAHC
Eye Health and Diabetes Module.
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Remote Area Health Corps RAHC
Diabetes eLearning Module [Video]