A Top End preschool vision screening pilot, figuring out the economic burden on parents of children requiring glasses, and training Papua New Guinea’s first paediatric ophthalmologist are among six projects to share in almost $230,000 as part of the 2024 ANZEF Grant Round.
The funding from the Australian and New Zealand Eye Foundation (ANZEF), RANZCO’s philanthropic arm, was allocated in October 2024 after considering 34 applications totalling $1.54 million in requests.
This year’s $228,915 will be divided between six projects that advance eye health equity and access in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.
They were:
- Top End preschool vision screening pilot: Bridging the gap in children’s eye health in the NT – led by Dr Nishantha Wijesinghe, Royal Darwin Hospital ($50,000)
- The economic burden on parents of children who need glasses – led by Dr Justin Mora ($1,500)
- Our vision our way: Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership of the next National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Plan – led by Lose Fonua, First Nations Eye Health Alliance ($50,000)
- Papua New Guinea paediatric ophthalmology fellowship – led by Dr Kimberley Tan and Dr Cesar Carillo, Sight For All ($41,315)
- Slowing the cone: Arresting keratoconus on the coast – led by A/Prof Graham Wilson, Rachel Cook, Dr Jason Rodier and Dr Sheng Hong, Gisborne Hospital ($36,100)
- Eyes on Sumba: Empowering eye health in rural Indonesia – led by Dr Mark Ellis AM, Foresight Australia ($50,000)
In a statement, ANZEF said the 2024 applications were diverse in terms of locations and organisations – “an indication of just how many passionate and driven people are dedicated to bettering the future of eye health equity and access for our region”.
The ANZEF Program Selection and Grants Sub-Committee were acknowledged for their efforts and hours spent reviewing applications.
The grants are made possible through the generosity of RANZCO fellows and donors.
Charity donations to ANZEF of $2 or more in Australia and $5 or more in New Zealand are tax-deductible.
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