A milestone celebration at Parliament House has highlighted five decades of outreach eyecare through the Visiting Optometrists Scheme, as Optometry Australia calls for sustainable future funding.
Optometry Australia has marked 50 years of the Visiting Optometrists Scheme (VOS) with a national celebration at Parliament House in Canberra, recognising the program’s enduring contribution to equitable eyecare access across Australia.
Established in 1975, the VOS has been pivotal in improving access to professional eyecare for people in regional, rural and remote communities, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By supporting optometrists to deliver outreach services, the scheme ensures Australians facing significant barriers to treatment can access timely, culturally safe care.
“The VOS has transformed eyecare in regional, rural and remote communities,” said Ms Sarah Davies, director of advocacy at Optometry Australia. “It ensures Australians who might never otherwise see an optometrist can get the care they need, when and where they need it.”
The program funds essential costs such as travel, accommodation, equipment transport and administrative support, allowing optometrists to deliver high-quality services far beyond metropolitan centres. It also fosters collaboration between visiting practitioners, local health services and other outreach providers to strengthen continuity of care.
“Outreach eyecare is about more than sight,” Davies said. “It’s about wellbeing, education, independence and quality of life. VOS ensures communities that are often overlooked are not left behind.”
Over five decades, the scheme has played a crucial role in preventing avoidable vision loss and strengthening early detection and treatment pathways. An expansion in 2009–10 enhanced services for First Nations communities, reflecting the importance of culturally responsive care and partnership-led approaches.
Optometry Australia emphasised that First Nations leadership and self-determination remain central to the program’s ongoing success. This sentiment was echoed by Ms Monica Barolits-McCabe, executive director of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), and Ms Lose Fonua, CEO of the First Nations Eye Health Alliance, who spoke at the Parliament House event about the need for partnership, respect and community-led delivery.
“This celebration is about recognising the incredible contribution of optometrists and health teams who deliver essential eyecare to underserved communities – both those in rural and remote locations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country,” Davies said. “The VOS is more than a program; it’s a lifeline, ensuring every Australian can see well and live well.”
The event also featured opening remarks from Senator Anne Ruston, Shadow Minister for Health, acknowledging the importance of ongoing government and parliamentary support for the scheme’s success.
In August 2025, Optometry Australia surveyed VOS optometrists to capture their perspectives on the program. While the majority expressed strong satisfaction with the purpose and outcomes of the scheme, only 16% felt current funded activities reflect the true scope of their outreach work, and just 21% considered remuneration rates adequate.
With the VOS entering a new funding period from 1 July 2026, Optometry Australia is advocating for sustainable, needs-based investment that reflects provider experience and supports continuous improvement.
“As we look to the future, Optometry Australia is calling for the VOS to be sustainably funded beyond 2026, aligned with population need and informed by provider experience and First Nations leadership,” Davies said.
For more information, visit Optometry Australia – Visiting Optometrists Scheme.
