Background

Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit (Minum Barreng) is committed to strengthening First Nations leadership and supporting self-determination in eye health. For several years, we have worked deliberately to shift power, amplify First Nations voices, and transition leadership, resources and decision-making authority to First Nations organisations.

This page outlines some of our transition journey and links to the key areas of work shaping this shift.

Why transition?

Transition at Minum Barreng is grounded in the belief that eye health systems deliver better outcomes when First Nations people lead the work. Strengthening First Nations leadership creates culturally informed, community-driven pathways and builds long-term capability across the sector.

Our commitment is to create space, support growth, and shift power in ways that are purposeful, respectful and sustainable.

Strengthening First Nations leadership within Minum Barreng

A major focus of our transition has been reshaping our own work group. Through strategic recruitment and intentional support pathways, more than half our workforce identifies as First Nations — a balance maintained since 2021. This has strengthened our cultural foundations and ensured community knowledge, experience and leadership remain central to our work.

Our advisory group was reshaped from 2021 to include a majority of First Nations members, helping set direction, guide priorities and hold us accountable to our values of self-determination.

Supporting the establishment and growth of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA)

Minum Barreng has supported the emergence and growth of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA), incorporated in 2023.

Building on the earlier National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Expert Group, we supported the creation of dedicated First Nations spaces within the national eye health conference and provided targeted support, including a CEO secondment during FNEHA’s establishment period.

In 2025, FNEHA independently delivered the national conference for the first time, an important example of successful transition and a significant milestone for First Nations leadership in eye health and for the broader transition of responsibility and voice.

Transitioning programs to First Nations-led organisations

We are progressively transitioning other Minum Barreng programs and resources to First Nations-led organisations, ensuring long-term ownership and sustainability. These currently include:

*       The Australian Government–funded transition of trachoma health promotion to NACCHO and the ACCH sector by June 2026

*       Exploration of transition pathways for Check Today, See Tomorrow and Eyecare Now, Eyecare Always

*       Support for stronger First Nations leadership in research, including MRFF applications led by First Nations Chief Investigators and planning for further collaborative opportunities in 2026

Each transition is co-designed, paced carefully, and grounded in the readiness of receiving organisations and communities.

Sharing what we learn

Transition is ongoing. Minum Barreng is committed to being transparent about what we learn, what works well, what requires careful thought, and how the sector can collectively move toward stronger First Nations leadership, voice and decision-making.

By sharing our approach, we hope to support partners, agencies and governments considering their own pathways toward genuine self-determination in eye health.