HARRISON PIKE, a proud Wiradjuri Ngemba man born in Dubbo and among only a handful of Aboriginal optometrists in Australia, is hopeful about the future of First Nations eye health after being invited to NATSIEHC25. Here’s what he learned.
Acknowledgment of Country: I pay my respects to Elders past, who paved the way by fighting for what is right; Elders present, who continue this journey; and Elders future – the next generation – learning from the actions we take today. I acknowledge the lands, waterways, and skies, and affirm that Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land. Sovereignty was never ceded.
I am honoured to be among only 15 Aboriginal optometrists in Australia, with First Nations people representing just 0.5% of the profession. Today, I work as a graduate optometrist at OPSM in Canberra, after graduating with a Master’s in Optometry from the University of Canberra in December 2024.
My connection to Country is profound; culture defines who I am. I feel privileged to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors, advocating for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. My goal is to improve vision outcomes for First Nations communities and build a legacy that future generations can be proud of.
While deeply committed to improving health outcomes for my people, I have often felt daunted by the task ahead. That changed earlier this year when the First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA) invited me to the 2025 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Conference (NATSIEHC25), after reading my graduate article. My perspective quickly shifted to one of responsibility and purpose – to help close the gap in vision outcomes and provide the best care possible.
The NATSIEHC25 conference was held from 27-29 May 2025 on Whadjuk Noongar land in Perth, and was the first conference convened by FNEHA. It brought together more than 240 delegates – 39.3% First Nations and 60.7% non-First Nations – including optometrists, ophthalmologists, academics, allied health professionals, and health organisations. It was an inspiring, empowering, and informative gathering where mob and allies shared stories, reflected, and explored solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health.
The conference theme, Seeing Our Way, was addressed powerfully by keynote speakers.
- Mr Selwyn Button, Productivity Commissioner and proud Gungarri man, who spoke about the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, highlighting that only 3 of 17 socioeconomic outcome areas – early childhood education, economic participation, and land and waters – were showing “good improvement and are on track according to the agreement”.
- Associate Professor Mitchell Anjou presented findings from the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey (NEHS), revealing alarming disparities: Indigenous adults have 2.8 times higher rates of low vision and 6.2 times higher rates of blindness. Cataract-related vision loss is 12 times more common, blinding diabetic retinopathy is 30 times more prevalent, and endemic trachoma still exists in some communities.
Speakers agreed that Indigenous leadership and participation in existing health systems are critical to change. Closing the vision gap requires placing culture, community, and care at the centre of solutions.
The NATSIEHC25 report, available on FNEHA’s website, outlines two key actions:
- Support for reparations for Queensland Stolen Generation survivors.
- Advocacy for a dedicated National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Plan, as no such government plan currently exists.
During the conference, I co-facilitated a workshop at the University of Western Australia’s School of Optometry. ‘Eyecare 101’ covered visual acuity, the Amsler grid, retinal imaging, OCT, and best practice for recording findings. Knowing that these skills could benefit many future patients was incredibly rewarding.
Following the conference, I was invited to join the Conference Leadership Group (CLG) to help organise NATSIEHC 2026. It is an honour to work alongside other respected First Nations leaders on such an important initiative.
The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation delivers vital vision care to individuals with limited or no access, including through outreach clinics in First Nations communities. This aligns with my goal of improving vision outcomes for First Nations peoples.
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