Three optometrists have been recognised for their contribution to indigenous eye health but meeting a target to stamp out trachoma in Australia appears increasingly unlikely.
A Northern Territory senator who was recently appointed Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health is having ongoing discussions about the previous government’s target to eliminate trachoma by 2025, as the COVID pandemic continues to impact health outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Ms Malarndirri McCarthy told ABC News that overcoming trachoma is one of her priorities, but she would need to fully appreciate the situation before she could set a timeline.
She said she would be talking to experts to see what could be done to eradicate the eye disease, which has been successfully eliminated in countries including Cambodia, Ghana, and Mexico, but not yet in Australia.
“I’m incredibly mindful we’re still in a pandemic with COVID, and I know that many communities across the country were isolated and the ability for trachoma and any other health programs to be carried out was severely limited, if not completely stopped, and we have to recognise that,” McCarthy said.
“What I would like to see in my role as Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health is to ensure that we pick it up again and run with it, to get rid of trachoma in our country.”
In 2009, the Rudd Labor government pledged to eliminate trachoma by 2020. The target was pushed back to 2022, and then again, to 2025, under the Coalition government.
Mr Nick Wilson, trachoma program manager at Indigenous Eye Health at The University of Melbourne, told ABC News there are a number of communities where the rates of trachoma are above 20%.
Eye Health Awards
Optometrists Ms Lauren Hutchinson, Mr Will Chin and Associate Professor Mitchell Anjou, deputy director of the Indigenous Eye Health Unit at the University of Melbourne, have each been individually recognised for their contribution to indigenous eye health at the 2022 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Awards, presented in May.
A letter of nomination praised Hutchinson who “goes above and beyond to work with and for her community, including as a role model to future Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander optometrists.”
It continued: “Lauren is passionate about contributing to her local community. She believes in quality health care in rural areas. This is evidenced by her returning to her hometown after university and starting work as an optometrist in Forbes. She has started a school screening program in her local area after noticing that the local Aboriginal kids weren’t accessing the eye testing service.”
Mr Will Chin was nominated for his generosity and commitment to improving access to eyecare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“His efforts go over and above personally delivering eyecare and include the donation of equipment, training and upskilling AHWs/AHPs, providing mentoring, and advocating strongly for the redistribution of eye health funding to Aboriginal organisations,” a letter of nomination explained.
Associate Professor Mitchell Anjou was praised for seeking to promote and advance First Nations leadership and ownership over the eye health sectors’ work and vision throughout his many spheres of influence.
“Across his contributions to the optometry sector in particular, notably as chair of the Optometry Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health advisory group, and co-chair of the OCANZ Indigenous strategy taskforce, Mitchell has consistently sought to engage and empower First Nations people, through mentorship; the active creation of opportunities which seek to build capacity; and holding space for transfer of power and leadership roles as suitable,” a letter of nomination stated.
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