NATSIEH Conference Transition

The first national conference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health was held in Melbourne in 2017 and was organised by Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit. The conference was called Close the Gap for Vision by 2020: National Conference 2017 and reflected many of the themes and activities being advanced under the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision national framework.

The impetus for a national conference was a series of roundtables and meetings held throughout 2015 and 2016 across different areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health. These brought together many of the same organisations and individuals and highlighted the value of creating a national forum to share experiences, strengthen coordination and support collective action.

The Close the Gap for Vision by 2020 national conference has been held annually since 2017. In 2022, it was renamed the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC), reflecting its evolution and growing focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership. The 2026 conference, NATSIEHC26, to be held in Naarm (Melbourne), marks the tenth national conference.

Greater Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership of the conference began to be realised in 2021, with the establishment of a Conference Leadership Group. This group spawned from the Aboriginal Reference Group of the Evaluation of the Implementation of the Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision (2019-2021) and then the National Expert Group in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health (NEGATSIEH).

NEGATSIEH played a key role in shaping the 2022 conference in Garramilla (Darwin), including the introduction of a dedicated day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates. This created space for strategic discussion and planning, leading to the development of the Vision 2030 report and a strong call for the establishment of a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health peak body.

This momentum continued at the 2023 conference on Dharug Country (Parramatta), contributing to the establishment of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA), which was incorporated in 2023.

Minum Barreng organised and hosted the national conferences from 2017-2023, with solid sector support and input and increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership over time.

In 2024, a co-hosting arrangement was established between Minum Barreng and FNEHA for the conference in nipaluna (Hobart). This reflected a shared intention to transition ownership and leadership of the conference to FNEHA when the organisation was ready. The 2024 conference demonstrated the continued strength, value and impact of the national forum, and the support of sponsors and partners provided a strong foundation for transition.

In 2025, FNEHA assumed full responsibility for the national conference, delivering a very successful event, NATSIEHC25, in Boorloo (Perth). This marked a significant milestone in the transition to First Nations leadership and a clear example of sector-led change in practice.

2026 – NATSIEHC26(Hosted by FNEHA)
11–13 May 2026 | Wurundjeri Country, Naarm (Melbourne, Victoria)

Visit the NATSIEHC26 website:
https://fneha.com.au