Global Committee With the end of the Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium funding for the East Asia Vision Program (EAVP), the Global Committee agreed to focus its efforts in three priority countries: Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Cambodia. In late February 2016 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) allocated approximately $200,000 to Vision 2020 Australia to work in partnership with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to strengthen sector collaboration and coordination in the three priority countries. Vision 2020 Australia and IAPB facilitated a workshop in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Prevention of Blindness (PBL) Committee in March 2016. The purpose of the workshop was to reflect on progress made in eye health to date and to identify how collaboration on specific priorities could assist in driving further sector development. In May a second Papua New Guinea PBL workshop resulted in an action plan to address these priority areas. Feedback from the PBL committee was very positive, with Vision 2020 Australia invited to facilitate another opportunity to review priority progress and identify next steps in 2017. Similar workshops with the Vietnam and Cambodia eye health sectors will take place later in 2016. The Global Committee oversees the progress of the collaborative workshops in the priority countries and is currently developing a Partnerships Strategy to guide stakeholder engagement including exploring potential funding opportunities for the sector. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee advocates for equitable access to quality eye health and vision care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Committee has predominantly worked to build on advocacy for the key priority areas identified in the Close the Gap in Eye Health and Vision Care: Sector Funding Proposal. A key activity for the Committee has been to develop submissions to the Australian Government regarding chronic disease and care, ensuring that the high incidence of chronic conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the impact on eye health and vision care is carefully regarded. The Committee has responded strongly on this providing submissions to the first and second draft consultations of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions, responding to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health’s Inquiry into Chronic Disease and meeting with the Primary Health Care Prevention and Management into Primary Health Care Advisory Group to discuss the Better Outcomes for People with Chronic and Complex Health Conditions discussion paper. The Committee has also continued to call on the Australian Government to commit to the development of a successor to the 2014-16 NFIP, including continuing focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and vision care.
Global Committee With the end of the Vision 2020 Australia Global Consortium funding for the East Asia Vision Program (EAVP), the Global Committee agreed to focus its efforts in three priority countries: Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Cambodia. In late February 2016 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) allocated approximately $200,000 to Vision 2020 Australia to work in partnership with the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to strengthen sector collaboration and coordination in the three priority countries. Vision 2020 Australia and IAPB facilitated a workshop in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Prevention of Blindness (PBL) Committee in March 2016. The purpose of the workshop was to reflect on progress made in eye health to date and to identify how collaboration on specific priorities could assist in driving further sector development. In May a second Papua New Guinea PBL workshop resulted in an action plan to address these priority areas. Feedback from the PBL committee was very positive, with Vision 2020 Australia invited to facilitate another opportunity to review priority progress and identify next steps in 2017. Similar workshops with the Vietnam and Cambodia eye health sectors will take place later in 2016. The Global Committee oversees the progress of the collaborative workshops in the priority countries and is currently developing a Partnerships Strategy to guide stakeholder engagement including exploring potential funding opportunities for the sector. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee advocates for equitable access to quality eye health and vision care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Committee has predominantly worked to build on advocacy for the key priority areas identified in the Close the Gap in Eye Health and Vision Care: Sector Funding Proposal. A key activity for the Committee has been to develop submissions to the Australian Government regarding chronic disease and care, ensuring that the high incidence of chronic conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the impact on eye health and vision care is carefully regarded. The Committee has responded strongly on this providing submissions to the first and second draft consultations of the National Strategic Framework for Chronic Conditions, responding to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health’s Inquiry into Chronic Disease Prevention and Management into Primary Health Care and meeting with the Primary Health Care Advisory Group to discuss the Better Outcomes for People with Chronic and Complex Health Conditions discussion paper. The Committee has also continued to call on the Australian Government to commit to the development of a successor to the 2014-16 NFIP, including continuing focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and vision care.
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