The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) is set to open its eighth clinic, Knox Eye Care, in Melbourne’s east later this year.
The ACO, which has been operational for more than 50 years, aims to provide affordable, vital eyecare and optometry services to individuals and families across Australia. The Victorian State Government has made funds available for the establishment of these services to support improved access to the Victoria Eyecare Service (VES) program.
Located in Bayswater, Knox Eye Care will be opening in September. Ms Iris Huang will be the site manager and optometrist.
“The new Knox clinic will improve access to our service for VES patients as well as patients with complex ocular history,” she said.
“Our focus on eye health education, regular eye check promotion, optometry teaching and collaboration with other professionals and hospitals will allow patients living in the far east to have more options accessing high standard and affordable eyecare.”
Meanwhile, Wyndham Eye Care, located in Hoppers Crossing, opened in June to help meet unmet demand for accessible and affordable eye care in Melbourne’s west.
The clinic is staffed by clinical receptionist King Lay as well as site manager and optometrist Mr Michael Yen.
“Patients love the convenience of our new location. They appreciated the eye care services the ACO provides and the affordable spectacle range but for many in the west, Carlton was too far to travel,” Yen said.
ACO director of clinical services Mr Neville Turner said both new clinics were located in areas of identified need to support access to the VES.
He said the Wyndham clinic was located in one of the largest growing communities with a culturally diverse population, while the Knox service was accessible to the Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah populations.
“With state-of-the-art equipment and our focus on excellence in patient care, the aim of these clinics is to improve access to eyecare for the local community and to support people who may not have been accessing care in the past,” Turner said.
The ACO is a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to improve the eye health and well-being of communities through innovation, partnership and leadership.
The organisation is committed to providing culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, asylum seeker and refugee communities, people with disabilities and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. For more information regarding clinic locations and the VES, visit here.
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