Supporting the Establishment of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA)

Minum Barreng is proud to have supported the emergence and growth of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA).

FNEHA, Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health peak, was incorporated in 2023 and is now a registered charity. It provides a national voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in eye care and vision health and works to prevent avoidable vision loss and blindness through equitable, culturally informed approaches.

FNEHA was established following sector-led discussions at the 2022 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC22) in Garramilla, Larrakia Country (Darwin), and the 2023 NATSIEHC on Dharug Country (Parramatta, Sydney). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health professionals attending the conferences called for and supported the development of a dedicated First Nations-led body to drive improvements in eye health and vision care outcomes.

As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation, FNEHA centres cultural knowledge, lived experience and community priorities in its work. It operates nationally to influence policy, strengthen coordination, and support equitable access to high-quality, culturally safe eye care.

FNEHA also provides a platform for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals and partners to connect, build capability and strengthen leadership across the eye health sector.

Earlier steps in the formation of FNEHA can be traced to 2019 and a co-design workshop held for the evaluation of regional implementation of the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices called for an Aboriginal Reference Group to help guide this work.

This group morphed into the National Expert Group Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health (NEGATSIEH) in 2021. NEGATSIEH supported national conference organisation through a Conference Leadership Group. NEGATSIEH also had the capacity and generosity to respond to other sector demands seeking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice on matters of eye health and care.

Minum Barreng supported the Aboriginal Reference Group, NEGATSIEH and the Conference Leadership Group and this resulted in the creation of dedicated First Nations-led spaces within the national eye health conference (from 2022). Minum Barreng subsequently provided staff and in-kind support during FNEHA’s establishment phase, including a period of CEO secondment.

More recently, the partnership between FNEHA and Minum Barreng has been formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (December 2025), supporting shared priorities and a coordinated approach to strengthening First Nations leadership in eye health. Read more here

Acknowledgement of leadership and contribution

The establishment of FNEHA reflects the leadership, commitment and collective effort of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and sector partners over time.

Minum Barreng acknowledges the significant contributions of those who helped shape this work, including members of the National Expert Group in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health, Conference Leadership Group, and others who contributed through ongoing dialogue, advocacy and system reform efforts.

We recognise the important role of individuals who contributed to the development of structures and pathways to support the establishment of FNEHA, including through extensive discussions and planning. This includes (but is not limited to) the contributions of Shaun Tatipata, Anne-Marie Banfield, Nick Wilson, Tania McLeod, Tanya Morris, Nicole Turner, Emma Robertson, Nicole Tujague, Lose Fonua, Makkaillah Ridgeway, Lesley Martin, Kristopher Rallah-Baker, Jaki Barton and others who played a key role in progressing this work.

Ongoing impact and leadership

FNEHA’s work contributes to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and reflects a broader commitment to strengthening self-determination, leadership and voice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

FNEHA is led by a Board and Secretariat made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders with extensive experience across community-controlled health, clinical care, research, policy and advocacy.

Further information

For more information about FNEHA, including leadership, partnerships and current work:  https://fneha.com.au