Leading blindness and low vision service and advocacy organisation Vision Australia is calling 1on the next federal government to take much needed action on number of key areas to improve conditions for the blind and low vision community.
Vision Australia has identified four key priorities for the 2025 Federal election where action would both directly benefit individuals who are blind or have low vision as well as strengthen the organisations across the sector that support them.
Vision Australia's priorities include:
- Aged Care
- The provision of dedicated block funding for vision services delivered to aged care consumers.
- The implementation of a streamlined referral pathway for aged care consumers identified as having a vision impairment.
- The recognition of vision services as being akin to clinical care.
- National Accreditation Scheme for Assistance Animals
- The establishment of a national register of assistance animals.
- National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Implementation of a differentiated pricing model for therapy-based services delivered by allied health professionals and other professionals under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
- Information Services
- Implementation of a longer-term funding model to ensure the continued provision of information services.
"These priorities are areas where action by the government will have an immediate and significant impact for people who are blind or have low vision and the associated support sector," Chris Edwards, Vision Australia General Manager of Corporate Affairs and Advocacy, said.
"It's well known that Australia has an ageing population, and that incidences of blindness or low vision are more prevalent in older people, so it's vital that older Australians have an easy path to the support they need and that organisations like ours are properly funded to meet the increased demand for services," Chris said.
"It is a similar situation with the NDIS. The specialist vision services we provide require significant expertise, compliance and investment and we believe that should be recognised in the NDIS funding model to ensure people who are blind or have low vision are receiving the best support possible."
While aged care and NDIS funding issues are common across the disability sector, Chris said the election priorities around assistance animals and information services are particular to the blind and low vision community, but no less important.
"In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of assistance animals in the community, however there are no consistent regulations on training requirements for these animals. We believe this needs to be addressed to improve community awareness and recognition of the rights of handlers of Seeing Eye Dogs and other highly-trained dog guides.
"There is also an expectation that organisations like Vision Australia will produce and distribute information to educate the blind and low vision community on topics such as common eye conditions and the strategies and supports available to assists them. While this is important, we believe the work we do in producing and providing this information should be recognised as a service by the government and funded as such."
The full Vision Australia 2025 Election priorities document is available to
